Georgian Ambassador withdraws offer to meet with Ukrainian ombudswoman due to 'political context' of Ukrainian MFA's statement

KYIV. Nov 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Ombudswoman Liudmyla Denisova has said that Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Giorgi Zakarashvili withdrew his proposal to hold a meeting with her because of the "political context of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s statement" regarding Mikheil Saakashvili and the need for further consultations with the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

"During the meeting, I would like to receive explanations about violations of the right to life and medical care and procedural rights of a citizen of Ukraine, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Reforms under the President of Ukraine Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained on October 1, 2021 and imprisoned on the basis of sentences of Georgian courts in 2018 and court proceedings in another two cases, which have been ongoing since 2014," Denisova wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.

She recalled that Saakashvili has been on hunger strike for 40 days, and since November 6, he has refused to take medications, vitamins and supportive drugs. Also, a council of doctors, based on the results of a medical examination on November 8, showed a critical state of his health.

"Yesterday’s actions by the Georgian authorities to forcibly transfer Mikheil to the penitentiary medical institution at custodial facility No. 18 in Gldani exacerbated the situation that today threatens his life and health. According to the Ombudsman of Georgia, because of the resistance to the placement in the institution, Saakashvili was injured by the employees of the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia. Prisoners in facility No. 18 use verbal aggression and threatening exclamations against Mikheil, which are heard in his cell," said the Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner.

Denisova drew attention to the fact that the actions of the Georgian authorities and Saakashvili’s stay in such conditions violate Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

According to her, the medical institution at penitentiary facility No. 18 in Gldani does not comply with the recommendations of the council of doctors and, due to the lack of the necessary medical equipment, cannot ensure proper resuscitation and treatment. This is confirmed by the Ombudsman of Georgia, said Denisova.

"Staying in this medical institution does not meet the requirements of Article 22 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, therefore, I demand the immediate placement of Mikheil Saakashvili in a hospital that is equipped to provide emergency resuscitation measures and meets the standards for providing medical care to such patients, taking into account all the recommendations of the council of doctors," she noted.

Denisova also stressed that the distribution by the Georgian authorities of video materials about Saakashvili’s being in a prison cell without consent is an illegal interference with his personal right to privacy.

"I strongly condemn the systematic and gross violations of the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili by Georgian officials and call on foreign states and international human rights organizations to immediately respond to such actions of the Georgian authorities and demand the restoration of his rights," she said.

Denisova added that she is awaiting explanations from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to Ukraine Giorgi Zakarashvili as the official representative of the Republic of Georgia, regarding the facts of torture, ill-treatment and violation of Saakashvili’s fundamental rights and freedoms by the Georgian authorities.