Saakashvili’s Health in Focus
In the letter signed by 44 members of the European Parliament and addressed to the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, the Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, and the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, the issue of Mikheil Saakashvili’s health has been brought into focus.
In view of the accelerated deterioration of Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition, the MEPs urgently called on the Georgian government to support the only compassionate, morally just, and effective decision: to transfer the former president to one of the EU member states, where he will be able to receive the necessary and appropriate medical care.
"We, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, are writing to express our profound concern and dismay regarding the recent circulation of distressing visual evidence from the online court hearing, which unequivocally depicts the rapid and severe deterioration of the health of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. It is evident that Mr. Saakashvili's current condition is deeply distressing, with the potential for dire consequences and the loss of human life.
We firmly believe that the deteriorating state of Mr. Saakashvili’s health is a clear indication that his current medical arrangements neither ensure nor facilitate his prompt recovery. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that immediate measures are taken to urgently rectify this situation before it reaches a critical stage.
Given the accelerated decline in Mr. Saakashvili’s condition, we, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, urgently call upon you to endorse the only compassionate, morally just, and effective solution: the transfer of the former President Saakashvili to one of the EU Member States, where he can receive the necessary and appropriate medical care," the letter states.
According to MEPs, any further integration between Georgia and the European Union is based on fundamental humanitarian principles, including basic human compassion and the right of every individual to receive appropriate medical care.
"As members of the European Parliament, we emphasize the significance of universal human values that uphold the dignity of every individual, serving as the foundation of the European Union project. We expect, without reservation, both the EU Member States and candidate countries to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to these shared European values.
Any further integration between Georgia and the EU is based on demonstrating an equivalent unwavering commitment to fundamental humanitarian principles, including basic human compassion and the right of every individual to receive proper medical care.
We trust that you will give this matter the utmost attention and take the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Saakashvili’s health and well-being are safeguarded", the letter states.
The letter follows the visit by five Polish doctors to the "Vivamed" clinic, where Mikheil Saakashvili is in custody. They visited the third president of Georgia for his medical examination.
As the head of "Saakashvili's release staff" Giorgi Chaladze said, the doctors came to the former president with the medical mission of the European Union: "After very intensive talks, negotiations and discussions between Brussels and the Georgian government, it was decided that the doctors should visit President Saakashvili. This conversation was not simple; it was not at a low level; it was at the highest political level between Brussels and Tbilisi. Representation of the European Union in Georgia and the Embassy of Poland were involved in this. Although I know everyone is interested, I cannot reveal the details. These are diplomatic negotiations, - noted Giorgi Chaladze and added, - there has never been a case when diplomacy did not yield results. There are diplomatic negotiations, and there are prisoner trade negotiations, prisoner exchanges, or otherwise negotiations with terrorists. We have all the means in our arsenal that will be needed to release the president."