Saakashvili accepts Justice Ministry offer on “medical checks” in a Tbilisi clinic

Imprisoned former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is ready to receive a medical service in Vivamedi Clinic, in Tbilisi, as offered by the country’s Justice Ministry earlier on Tuesday, a member of the United National Movement opposition party Koba Nakopia stated shortly before. 

Nakopia said that Saakashvili has been offered to be transferred to the clinic for medical checks and then to be returned back to Rustavi Prison No.12, and not to stay there for treatment. 

He stated that Saakashvili had a scheduled meeting with his family today and, thus, he would be transferred to the clinic in the coming days. 

Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said earlier today that the ministry would offer Saakashvili to receive treatment in the multiprofile Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi to “prevent” complications in his health as the third president “refuses to receive certain medication and food.”  

Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship and chaired the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council prior to his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1, 2021 , said he returned after eight years to help his UNM “change the Georgian Dream leadership via elections.”  

However, the current authorities said that Saakashvili planned a coup. The former president is currently serving his term for abuse of authority he was convicted in absentia back in 2018. 

He has also been charged with several other offenses. Doctors under the Georgian Public Defender’s medical council suggested last week  that Saakashvili had anorexia and protein deficiency, and that the current environment hampered his recovery.