Kyiv Court approved the petition for the temporary transfer of Saakashvili to Ukraine
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, October 7, 2022
A trial is underway in Ukraine, where Saakashvili is to be questioned as a witness. The case concerns the possible inhumane treatment of him.
Today, Saakashvili's lawyer Vadim Zavorotny told "Mtavari" channel that they submitted a motion to the court to temporarily transfer Saakashvili to Ukraine for questioning, which the court approved.
According to Zavorotny, the court's decision will be handed over to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, which in turn will notify the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. A decision on the temporary transfer of Saakashvili to Ukraine will be made in Tbilisi.
"I don't see a problem why the Georgian government should refuse us. However, if this happens, we are ready to go to the European Court of Human Rights. It doesn't matter if we are talking about the former president or an ordinary citizen, the court made this decision," said Vadim Zavorotny.
Mikheil Saakashvili himself responded to the court proceedings in Kyiv today. As his lawyer, Shalva Khachapuridze stated Saakashvili says that the ongoing process in Ukraine should not be given a political face and that it is simply about questioning as a witness.
"His request is to speak out so that the Ukrainian process is not given a false political appearance. The process is ongoing as to whether he will be questioned as a witness or not. Such comments were heard on television that a decision will be made and Saakashvili will be transferred. Nothing like this happens, it is a normal court process to be questioned as a witness or not", said Shalva Khachapuridze.
The lawyer noted that several times the information was spread incorrectly, as if the Ukrainian court was considering the facts of Saakashvili's treatment after his arrest in Georgia, however, in fact, the Ukrainian court is considering the case initiated in Ukraine itself.
According to Khachapuridze, the Ukrainian court will transfer the request to Georgia and then it will be decided whether Saakashvili will be sent to Ukraine as a witness for questioning.
"Incorrect information was spread several times as if the Ukrainian court was considering the facts of the inhumane treatment of Saakashvili in Georgia. The correct information is that the Ukrainian court is considering and has opened a case related to the current events in Ukraine itself. Saakashvili is known as a victim, in this case, his lawyer filed a petition regarding the questioning of Saakashvili as a witness, and the Ukrainian court made a decision to transfer Saakashvili from Georgia to Ukraine, where he should be questioned as a victim" Khachapuridze told reporters.
Besides, according to Khachapuridze, Mikheil Saakashvili's health has been serious in recent days.
