Saakashvili requests doctor as feels bad at a trial hearing

Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili requested a doctor shortly after he began his speech at a trial hearing on his case earlier today at Tbilisi City Court, related to illegally crossing the border from Ukraine to Georgia last year. 

The former President Saakashvili initially addressed the public in Ukrainian, then continued in Georgian, saying that he would pay tribute to the “Georgian heroes” who had fought and died  in Ukraine, then greeted the supporters gathered in front of the court after which he said-”I need a doctor’s help.”

About 15 minutes later Saakashvili was returned to the courtroom and the hearing continued.

Saakashvili said that he was unable to receive needed medical care, had lost 12 kg over the past several days and was unable to stand on his feet on the weekend. 

Judge Nino Chakhnashvili has partially granted the lawyers’ motion and instructed the Director General of the Penitentiary Service to respond to Saakashvili’s health condition and ensure “appropriate, adequate medical services to him” 

 

However, the judge denied the lawyers’ motion to hear the doctors in court and admit them to the prison. 

 

At the trial hearing Saakashvili once again said that Georgia “vitally needs” the change of the current authorities, encouraging the public to take to the street. 

 

He also stated that his United National Movement “is not a war party” as the ruling party describes it, “it is the party of saviors.” 

 

Saakashvili claimed that looking at the situation in Ukraine people should understand that he and the party managed to protect the major part of the country from the Russian invasion back in 2008. 

 

He also stated that pro-Russian organizations opened offices in Ukraine prior to the war, saying that the opening of such offices in Georgia now (referring to the pro-Russian platform Alt-Info) could indicate that Russia’s next target is Georgia.