Parliament speaker: less visitors allowed to see Saakashvili in prison, it’s prison, not hotel

Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava says that many people wish to see the country’s arrested ex-president in Rustavi No.12 prison, while a balance should be kept. 

 

“It is impossible to allow 10-15 individuals on a daily basis to see Saakashvili. It is a prison and not a hotel,” Kuchava said, responding to the opposition’s allegations that visitors are not allowed to see the former president.

 

He stated that a lawyer and family members have the right to meet Saakashvili when they wish. However, the number of other visitors has been limited. 

 

Saakashvili was arrested on October 1 in Tbilisi, a day before Georgian municipal elections. 

 

He said he returned after eight years in political exile to save the country from the Georgian Dream leadership and encouraged voters to help the UNM win the municipal elections, which would be a step forward to early parliamentary elections. 

 

Saakashvili was convicted in Georgia in absentia back in 2018 for abuse of authority in two separate cases and was sentenced to six years in prison.  

 

He has already been charged with four other cases which concern illegal take-over of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal and illegally crossing the border.