Saakashvili’s Health Worsens

| News, Georgia

According to the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia, Nino Lomjaria, there was a lot of speculation about Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition, however, the information he received from doctors is disturbing and critically difficult.

Lomjaria said that her recommendation is to form a group of doctors who will discuss how, where, and in what form it is best and necessary to treat Mikheil Saakashvili. However, according to Lomjaria, if the government does not follow her recommendations, it will amount to inhuman treatment, and they will face a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention.

"Some of the recommendations we gave have been implemented since January, but the main recommendations regarding his psycho-physical rehabilitation have not been implemented… The situation is aggravated and this has put the difficult situation we have today. Taking care of the health of each prisoner is a direct responsibility of the state. We see in the dynamics that certain recommendations regarding his treatment have not been implemented, the condition of Mikheil Saakashvili has worsened and there is a very difficult prognosis if his environment does not change, if the forms of medical services do not change," Lomjaria stated.

"Therefore, my recommendation would be for the state to fulfill its obligation and recommendations and provide the patient with the treatment he needs. I would also like to address the President of Georgia [Salome Zourabichvili], whose administration and personally the President are interested in this issue.  Today, in the conditions and environment where Saakashvili is, appropriate medical care is not provided, and his condition is deteriorating. If the state does not take countermeasures, it will amount to inhuman treatment, and we will face a violation of Article 3 of the Convention. This will be a very heavy burden for the state and not only for the government. I think it is a really difficult situation and I want everyone to realise it. It is necessary to act in time and make a decision," Lomjaria added.

According to the Public Defender, Saakashvili's sentence may be postponed due to his poor health condition, he could be transferred to another country to serve his sentence, it may be possible to pardon him, or the penitentiary institution will provide his treatment and the state will offer treatment in the appropriate environment. However, according Lomjaria, so far, if the situation does not change, Saakashvili will not be visited by the Ombudsman's Council of Physicians.

Lomjaria’s comments were made along with the statements by doctors within a special council charged with supervising the health of the former president. "Mikheil Saakashvili has actually lost half of his muscle mass. The main reason for his weight loss during the first meeting was a decrease in fat” Khurtsidze stated at a briefing held at the Public Defender's Office. According to Khurtsidze, Saakashvili lost 8 kg, the main part of which is muscle mass. According to him, an anorexic person cannot be cured in prison and a special institution is needed for that, and the prison "does not even have a hospital." Therefore, Saakashvili will not be able to be treated in the prison.

“Saakashvili has symptoms characteristic of general hunger: weakness, dizziness, loss of coordination and more. In order for his condition to improve, he needs a complete diet, the psychological problem he has must be removed, he is not being helped by medical treatment… he is doing nothing, and his condition is deteriorating. Our recommendation is that the person needs proper psychological rehabilitation, where this will take place is up to the state to decide, as he says himself, not to carry out rehabilitation within the prison walls. An anorexic person is not cured in prison, it requires a special facility, which is not often a hospital. Unfortunately, we do not have such centres in Georgia, services can be divided, but it will not be possible within the walls where it is," said Grigol Khurtsidze.

Another doctor, Giorgi Grigolia, said that Mikheil Saakashvili's illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, had moved into a deeper phase. He developed anorexia because of depression. "His illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, has moved to a deeper phase. We have mentioned before that he had depression between moderate and mild. Now the depression is deepening. As a result of this depression, we have anorexia. If he does not want to eat, it does not matter, he cannot get food," said Grigolia

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