UNM member: Poland ready to receive Saakashvili, provide him with proper treatment

Levan Khabeishvili, a member of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party said on Friday that Poland is ready to receive imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and provide him with the medical care he requires. 

Khabeishvili made the statement at a protest rally near Rustavi Prison No.12 where Saakashvili is serving his term for abuse of power after being arrested in Tbilisi on October 1, 2021. 

The protesters arrived in Rustavi by a convoy from Tbilisi, from the party’s central office.

They are scheduled to return back to Tbilisi and  hold a rally in front of the Presidential Administration. 

The demonstrators have two demands:  transfer of Saakashvili abroad for treatment, and“suspension of inhuman treatment” against Saakashvili. 

The European People’s Party, of which the United National Movement is a member, said yesterday that it is “concerned about the health” of Georgia’s third incarcerated president and called on the Georgian authorities to allow Saakashvili to receive medical treatment abroad. 

Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party has stated that “it is impossible” to release Saakashvili or send him to another country for treatment. 

Speaking about the health of Saakashvili, he said that those who raise this issue want to “drag Georgia” in Russia’s war with Ukraine. 

Kobakhidze said that Saakashvili can eat “egg and cottage cheese” not to have protein deficiency. 

According to the conclusion of the group of medical experts under the Public Defender’s office, Saakashvili has anorexia and protein deficiency as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, and “at this stage timely complex neuro-psychological and physical rehabilitation is recommended.”