Freedom to Mikheil Saakashvili
Monthly Newsletter | June 2023
Overwhelming majority of Georgians support Mr. Saakashvili’s transfer abroad for medical treatment per IRI recent poll. Photo Credit: EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE
American Georgians for Progress has launched this publication as part of its efforts to achieve the release from prison of Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, and his transfer abroad for medical treatment. Mr. Saakashvili urgently needs to be transferred to a hospital abroad where he could be provided with life-saving, complex neuro-psychological and physical treatment.
By sharing this newsletter with journalists, human rights activists, legislative authorities, business leaders, and government officials, you will join a growing chorus of international voices demanding an unconditional transfer for treatment abroad of Mr. Saakashvili.
An urgent action is needed to prevent Mr. Saakashvili’s likely demise.
The time for action is now!
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Rally held in Tbilisi to demand Mr. Saakashvili's release from prison, 3 June 2023
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Zourabichvili on Mr. Saakashvili: everything needs to be done to avoid the worst outcome, 1 June 2023
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The European Parliament expresses its concern over Mr. Saakashvili’s situation: President Roberta Metsola, 31 May 2023
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Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe calls on Georgian authorities to release Saakashvili, Grigoriadis, and Gvaramia, 28 May 2023
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EU makes démarche to Georgian government over resumption of flights with Russia
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Ukraine’s envoy visits Mr. Saakashvili at hospital, 25 May 2023
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The prosecution of Mr. Saakashvili raised concerns over the justice system’s ability to grant a free and fair trial: Freedom House, 24 May 2023
Latest Developments
The Prometheus Prize named after late President Lech Kaczyński, was awarded to Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili in 2023 in honor of his contribution to the struggle for freedom. Accepting the award on Mr. Saakashvili’s behalf was is mother Prof. Giuli Alasania. Photo Credit: Filip Blazejowski/Gazeta Polska
The steady deterioration of health of the former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has resulted in severe sarcopenia, and severe stage 4 cachexia, a complex syndrome associated with an underlying illness, causing ongoing muscle loss. A group of authoritative medical doctors convened by the Public Defender of Georgia assessed on 2 April 2023 that Mr. Saakashvili’s condition has further deteriorated and warned about possible grave complications. According to the doctors, Mr. Saakashvili has lost half of his weight while in prison, and if he continues to lose weight, “irreversible changes in the body will begin.” The Georgian authorities have refused to allow for his transfer abroad despite recommendations of the Public Defender of Georgia and medics triggering fears of a tragic outcome.
World leaders including President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Macron of France have called on the Georgian authorities to release Mr. Saakashvili. Prime Minister of Poland Morawiecki issued a proposal for Mr. Saakashvili to be treated in Poland. US Department of State urged the government of Georgia to “heed the Public Defender’s recommendations about appropriate treatment”.
Upon his return to Georgia after eight years in exile, Mr. Saakashvili was arrested on 1 October 2021. His treatment in various prison facilities has been sharply criticized by local and international human rights groups. Amnesty International assessed that Mr. Saakashvili’s treatment by authorities was “not just selective justice but apparent political revenge”. Reacting to the circumstances of Mr. Saakashvili’s forceful transfer to yet another prison facility Human Rights Watch stated that it could be interpreted as "a forced treatment” and noted that Mr. Saakashvili was “violently transferred to the prison hospital, allegedly threatened; denied dignity, privacy, and adequate healthcare”. Mr. Saakashvili’s multiple hunger strikes have led to grave complications affecting his physical as well as mental condition.
Mr. Saakashvili has been convicted in absentia for two alleged crimes. The charges against him are widely viewed as politically motivated, and the legal cases against him are regarded as a political retribution. In 2020, after the exhaustion of domestic remedies, both cases were referred to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, alleging violations of the right of Mr. Saakashvili to a fair trial, “no punishment without law”, and limitation on use of restrictions on rights.
Political Persecution of Mr. Saakashvili
International & Domestic Reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds images of Mr. Saakashvili taken in prison. 1 February 2023. Photo credit: Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
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Professor Donald Rayfield: They are killing Saakashvili
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Francis Fukuyama criticizes the Georgian government over its mistreatment of Mr. Saakashvili
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Georgian Justice Minister said that the European Court of Human Rights rejected the request to transfer Mr. Saakashvili to Warsaw for treatment
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EU States Ambassadors meet the Minister of Justice to discuss Saakashvili's situation
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Thomas Hacker, a Member of the German Bundestag was not allowed to visit Mr. Saakashvili at the hospital
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Meta has suspended 80 Facebook accounts, 26 pages, 9 groups, and 2 Instagram accounts associated with the Georgian Government for “coordinated inauthentic behavior”
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Foreign Minister of Poland raises the situation of Mr. Saakashvili with his Georgian counterpart
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Majority of Georgians support Mr. Saakashvili’s transfer abroad for medical treatment
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Mr. Navalny calls for Mr. Saakashvili’s release from prison for medical treatment
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President Zelenskyy calls on Georgia to transfer Mr. Saakashvili for treatment abroad
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Mr. Saakashvili's case is referred to the European Court of Human Rights
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Mr. Saakashvili awarded with the Sjur Lindebrekke Human Rights Promotion Award in Norway
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Mr. Saakashvili awarded with the Prometheus Prize in Poland
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Doctor’s concilium speaks of Mr. Saakashvili’s grave condition
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Poland says it is ready to send doctors to see Mr. Saakashvili