Justice Ministry toughens conditions for Saakashvili's communication with visitors

A solid glass wall has been installed in the meeting room of the Rustavi prison, where the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, communicates with visitors. Saakashvili said he can no longer exchange documents with lawyers. The Georgian Ministry of Justice explained the new restrictions by the fight against coronavirus.

Mikheil Saakashvili is in prison in Rustavi, where he has been on a hunger strike since October 1, demanding his release. Saakashvili’s opponents gathered in front of the prison on the evening of October 25, demanding severe punishment and that he apologises. The Office of the Ombudsman of Georgia checked the prison hospital’s conditions, where Saakashvili can be hospitalised, and found them unsuitable for his situation. Fourteen non-governmental organisations in Georgia on October 26 called on the authorities to resolve the issue of Mikheil Saakashvili’s hospitalisation, who categorically refused to be transferred to a prison hospital in Gldani. On the 27th day of the hunger strike, he refused medical procedures and tests, while his condition worsened, an intensive care unit is on duty at the prison entrance.

The council of doctors recommended placing the former president in a clinic for intensive observation, as Saakashvili's supporters have repeatedly insisted on the protests. The politician himself said that he did not intend to end the hunger strike but agreed to medication as a last resort. The Justice Ministry said that, if necessary, Saakashvili would be hospitalised in a prison hospital rather than a private clinic. Saakashvili needs to be hospitalised in a multidisciplinary civil clinic, and all the doctors who participated in the special council agree with this, said his personal physician Nikoloz Kipshidze. There was no talk of transferring to a civil clinic at the council, retorted the head of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, Rati Bregadze.

"Since this morning, the possibility of communication with personal lawyers has been completely blocked. A solid glass wall was installed between us in the meeting room, which means that we can no longer exchange documents with each other. Moreover, it is very hard to hear. This has never happened in Georgia. and, moreover, in Europe,” says the message on Saakashvili's Facebook page.

He also stated that he would refuse medical intervention and examinations related to the hunger strike until he was allowed visits under the same conditions. "This will continue until the right to unhindered relations with human rights defenders is restored!" he indicated in the message.

Saakashvili refused to take tests, so it is difficult to determine his state of health, but his weakness is increasing, Saakashvili's lawyer Giorgi Gelkhauri told reporters after a meeting with his client.

Saakashvili refuses medical assistance again

Mikheil Saakashvili, who is on hunger strike in prison, once again refused to consult with doctors and take medication. The former president has the right to commit suicide, noted Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

"I am grateful to the representatives of the council and, unfortunately, the government did not consider the main recommendation. From now on I am not taking treatment to ease the hunger strike, and I will not take tests. I returned to Georgia because I thought that the country was finally headed towards totalitarianism and devastation from Georgians. But in these elections, we must try to stop this and take steps to return," Saakashvili's address read out by Giorgi Gelkhauri on the air of the Mtavari Arkhi TV company reads.

In his address, Saakashvili said that in the first round of elections, the opposition has achieved serious success and a second round will be held in all major cities. He called on the opposition electorate to defend votes in the second round.

Gelkhauri said that he didn’t know the results of the tests he had taken the day before, but that Saakashvili’s weakness increased.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili believes that hospitalisation in a civil sector hospital, where "there are no security conditions," is part of "Saakashvili's plan."

"According to his plan, we have to move him to a private clinic. Next, their plan is to mobilise several thousand people, 4-5 or 10 thousand. We will have to deploy the police, use special means and remain in eternal chaos and unrest," Garibashvili said.