Saakashvili’s American Lawyer addresses Georgian health, justice ministries

American lawyer of Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili, John Sandweg, has addressed Georgian justice and health ministries to ensure ‘immediate transfer’ of Saakashvili to a civil clinic as he has been on hunger strike for 29 days. 

“Saakashvili’s medical condition has been deteriorating steadily since his incarceration (on October 1). Despite the alarming deterioration of his health, the Ministry of Justice has refused to transfer him to a civilian hospital.

Instead, President Saakashvili remains imprisoned in the Rustavi jail – a facility that is woefully unprepared to handle medical emergencies or otherwise provide for his health and safety,” said the letter by Sandweg. 

Sandweg says that Saakashvili’s transfer to the Prison No.18 clinic, as it has been offered by the Ministry of Justice, is ‘grossly inappropriate.’ 

“This transfer would likely expose President Saakashvili to physical retribution from individuals incarcerated during his presidency and would also subject President Saakashvili to substandard medical care,” said the letter, noting that such a transfer would violate Georgia’s obligations to preserve and protect the health and safety of Saakashvili and would constitute a ‘gross abdication’ of the country’s obligations under established international law. 

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated yesterday that Saakashvili and his United National Movement opposition plan to stage a provocation and ‘even to kill people’ at a civil clinic if Saakashvili is transferred there. Garibashvili says that the Georgian government is well-aware of Saakashvili’s and the UNM’s ‘provocative intentions.’