On March 27, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that awarding Mikheil Saakashvili a prize for fighting for human rights and democracy [A1] is a mockery and insult to the Georgian people.

While commenting on the Norway’s Sjur Lindebrekke Award given to Saakashvili in Norway, he said that Saakashvili is the creator of a murderous regime. According to him, awarding the prize to Saakashvili is the same as if some country awarded Breivik, who was convicted of murdering many people in Norway.

"It was a terrible hellish reality that we encountered in 2012 when people were tortured, raped, and killed by the criminal system. Against this background, Saakashvili was awarded something by some Norwegian organizations for the results achieved in the field of human rights. This is a mockery and insult to our people. The world-famous authoritarian, almost dictatorial former ruler Saakashvili, who was the creator of an oppressive, murderous system, was awarded something in the field of human rights. Is not this a mockery of our people? Is not this unbelievable? You remember Breivik in Norway, who killed a lot of people. It would be almost the same if some country gave Breivik the same. It is the same for me. Mikheil Saakashvili is convicted for his participation in the Girgvliani case; his regime was a murderous regime," Garibashvili said.

Notably, on the same day, endocrinologist Sopo Mebuke said that Mikheil Saakashvili is being treated symptomatically at Vivamedi, and this treatment can also be provided in an outpatient clinic. According to Sopo Mebuke, Mikheil Saakashvili refuses to create a new council of doctors, rehabilitation, therapeutic massages, and psychotherapy.

"I did not take part in the Vivamedi decision, according to which the clinic applies to the penitentiary service that the patient is undergoing symptomatic treatment and can receive it in another clinic. Nevertheless, I agree that symptomatic treatment can be done even in an outpatient clinic. If Mikheil Saakashvili does not agree to more than symptomatic treatment, it does not matter where he will be," the endocrinologist said.

On 28 March, the Norwegian Ambassador to Tbilisi, Helene Sand Andresen, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the awarding of the Sjur Lindebrække Prize to former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Oslo for achievements in the field of democracy and human rights.