Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Georgia's ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili transferred back to prison

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is seen from a defendant's dock during a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Dec. 2, 2021.
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is seen from a defendant's dock during a court hearing in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Dec. 2, 2021. Copyright  Irakli Gedenidze / AP
Copyright Irakli Gedenidze / AP
By Josephine Joly
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

The 54-year-old had been undergoing treatment in hospital after a prolonged hunger strike.

ADVERTISEMENT

Georgia's ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred back to prison early Thursday morning after undergoing treatment following a hunger strike, authorities said in a statement.

According to reports, Saakashvili's lawyers were not notified about the transfer back to the prison in Rustavi in advance. 

They alleged that the 54-year-old was returned from the Gori Military Hospital prematurely. 

Nika Gvaramia, one of the attorneys representing Saakashvili, said his client was "no longer communicative and could not move on his own", according to Georgian news agency Interpress News.

Gvaramia said at a press conference that Saakashvili was wheelchair-bound and appeared "weakened, stupefied with sleeping pills." 

Lawyers for the former leader had previously expressed concern for his health following his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1.

Georgia's Special Penitentiary Service said in a statement that Saakashvili was transferred back to prison "in full compliance with the law." 

After the transfer to Rustavi, Saakashvili was visited by his lawyers, including Gvaramia.

Riot police and water cannons were deployed outside the 12th Prison in Rustavi on Thursday morning after a small number of Saakashvili's supporters gathered outside.

Saakashvili is currently serving a six-year prison term for abuse of power during his rule as President from 2004 to 2013, and faces three similar criminal cases.

Additional sources • ANADOLU

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

'Sense of solitude': Caucasus elderly face severe loneliness, worsened by pandemic

Georgia's former president appears in court on abuse of power charges

Former Georgian President Saakashvili moved to prison hospital amid hunger strike