UNM urges local, int’l organisations to use all measures to protect Saakashvili

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has urged local and international organisations to ‘use all measures’ to protect ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been on hunger strike since October 1. 

UNM head Nika Melia stated yesterday that Saakashvili’s health may worsen at any time, while the Georgian Dream government refuses to take him to a multi-profile clinic and instead offers his transfer to a prison No. 18 hospital. 

He says that the prison clinic lacks the equipment to provide proper service for Saakashvili. 

Georgian PM, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze and health officials, however, say that the prison clinic is well-equipped. 

Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi just ahead of October 2 municipal elections. 

He says he returned to save the country from the ‘pro-Russian rule’ of the Georgian Dream government. 

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

He has also been charged with four other cases which are still in courts.