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The News in Brief

Thursday, December 15, 2022
Prepared by Messenger Staff

MEP Rasa Jukneviciene calls on Zourabichvili and the gov't to do everything so 'Saakashvili's life is not on their conscience'

MEP Rasa Jukneviciene said during the debate that "Bidzina Ivanishvili has taken Georgia hostage" and his goals are different from the goals of the Georgian people.

Rasa Jukneviciene also spoke about the situation of Mikheil Saakashvili during the debate on the issue of Georgia in the European Parliament and noted that the detention of the ex-president in prison is not in line with European values.

MEP called on President Zourabichvili and the Government of Georgia to do everything so that the issue of Mikheil Saakashvili's life is not on their conscience.

"Georgia's place is in Europe. I am sure that Georgia will become a member of the European Union. The Georgian people deserve it. I am not sure that Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has taken Georgia hostage, has the same goals as the Georgian people. The Georgian government knows very well what to do. Everything is written in the recommendations of the European Commission, which must be carried out without manipulations and claims. Detaining Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president, in prison is not a European value. Torturing people is Putin's policy, and I want to call on the government of Georgia, including the president: do everything so that the issue of Mikheil Saakashvili's life is not on your conscience," Rasa Jukneviciene said.



Mikheil Saakashvili not allowed to attend his own trial at Tbilisi Court

Mikheil Saakashvili was not transferred from the hospital to physically attend his ongoing trial in Tbilisi City Court, nor was given an opportunity to remotely attend due to the 'lack of technical devices' at Vivamed clinic.

The judge read statements from the penitentiary service and the hospital:

"The letter of Mr. Nika Abramishvili himself states that, as of today, the Penitentiary Service lacks the ability to ensure the remote involvement of the convicted Saakashvili. This is the first paragraph of this letter.

Also, the letter, which is this minute, was written: the doctor does not consider it appropriate to transport Saakashvili to the trial scheduled for December 14, 2022, based on his health condition," the judge said.

Lawyer Shalva Khachapuridze was interested in the reason why the convict from the hospital could not be included, to which the head of the penitentiary replied that the technical means need to be adjusted, and at this stage, there are no appropriate technical devices in Vivamed.