Zelensky calls for proper treatment for Saakashvili

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called for providing appropriate medical care to Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili.

President Zelensky spoke of this in a video address, Ukrinform reports.

"Mikheil Saakashvili's life now depends not on a political decision, not on any personal decision, but purely on an ethical decision with a solid legal basis. If a person needs medical care, if his life depends on this, then this step is necessary. I know that Mikheil's lawyers have now filed an urgent appeal with the ECHR to ensure he receives proper treatment. And it seems that this is the only way to save his life," president said.

As reported, Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili was detained in Georgia on October 1, 2021, when he returned to his homeland after an eight-year absence. He was charged with illegal border crossing, which, according to the investigation, he committed on September 28, when he secretly arrived at the port of Poti from Ukraine on a ship carrying a truck with dairy products.

On February 1, 2023, during a press conference with Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky showed photos of Mikheil Saakashvili and expressed his belief that the Georgian authorities are publicly torturing and killing him.

The Verkhovna Rada appealed to Georgia, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, PACE, and the parliaments of the EU member states to immediately transfer the third president of Georgia for treatment abroad.

On March 2, the Tbilisi Court of Appeal dismissed the lawsuit filed by Saakashvili's lawyers. They tried to appeal the court's February 6 ruling that had left him in custody, finding the claim for a delay in his sentence and dismissal for health reasons groundless.

Photo: Office of President