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The News in Brief

Tuesday, January 10, 2023
Prepared by Messenger Staff

Peter Fischer on Saakashvili: Georgian gov't's responsibility is to provide adequate medical treatment

Germany's Ambassador to Georgia H.E. Peter Fischer said in an interview with Georgia Today that reports about Saakashvili's health condition are 'cause for concern' and that protecting the rights of the former president is the responsibility of the Georgian authorities.

According to Fischer, the German Embassy is closely monitoring Saakashvili's case and their representative is attending the court proceedings.

Germany's Ambassador to Georgia said that it is the government's responsibility to provide adequate medical treatment to any prisoner.

"We are closely monitoring this matter. Moreover, the representative of the embassy often attends court proceedings. Regarding Mr. Saakashvili's condition, reports of his serious illness are cause for concern, and our position is that it is the responsibility of the Georgian authorities to protect Mikheil Saakashvili's rights, just as the authorities are responsible for the health of any other prisoner. Of course, we will continue to monitor the process and we believe that providing both humanitarian and adequate medical assistance is the responsibility of all authorities," said Peter Fischer.



Vice Speaker of Parliament responds to Andrey Kasyanov's letter and calls his actions 'inadequate'

Gia Volski, a member of Georgian Dream and vice-speaker of the parliament, responded to the statement of Andrei Kasyanov, charge d'affaires of the Ukrainian embassy in Georgia, that Ukraine asked the Georgian government to hand over Bulk missile systems and Javelins supplied by Ukraine, which was refused by authorities.

According to Volski, in 2008, Georgia bought weapons from Ukraine and did not receive them for free, and called Kasyanov 'inadequate' in his actions.

"Kasyanov's statement, first of all, is completely inadequate to the situation in 2008. Billions have been paid for the military equipment, and generally what he calls aid has come to Georgia in exchange for certain amounts.

This trade deal is perfectly healthy, arms procurement is a healthy operation, and the state needs it. But it is doubtful that it coincides with the enrichment of specific people - millionaires, who the day before had nothing and suddenly, in the post-war period, becomes a billionaire, one of the richest people in the world, and finances politics and the media in Georgia. This is the reality.

"As for the inadequacy of the statement, this is characteristic of some officials, but I think that Kasyanov himself is inadequate in his actions and as a person should be evaluated with this word," said Volsky.

Volsky confirmed that at the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian authorities asked for weapons and the possibility of volunteers to transport, for which they sent a charter flight, but according to Volsky, this meant Georgia's involvement in the war.