Bill Browder says Mikheil Saakashvili is 'held captive' by the Georgian government
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Bill Browder, the author of the Magnitsky Act, spoke about Mikheil Saakashvili's health in an interview with Voice of America and said that the photo he saw of the imprisoned ex-president, made it clear for him that Saakashvili is extremely suffering physically, said he is being 'tortured' and discussed the consequences Georgian government might face in future if he dies in prison.
"I saw a photo of Mikheil Saakashvili taken in prison and it was clear from that photo that he is extremely suffering physically. It seems that his medical needs are neglected, he is tortured and he is probably poisoned. A photo says more than a thousand words. So when I saw a photo of a person who was once strong, healthy, it became clear that he is on the brink of death. We have to do something, and we have to do it fast," Browder said.
Browder called the treatment of Mikheil Saakashvili a 'shameful, evil act,' which will remain a terrible stain on the Georgian government.
"I think that what we are looking at now is the treatment of the former president by the government of Georgia, and it has reached the point where he [Saakashvili] is dying. This is such a very shameful and evil act that it will leave a terrible, terrible stain on the government of Georgia. If Saakashvili dies in prison, then I can't even imagine what will happen to the members of the current government of Georgia. They will probably never be able to do business again, they won't be able to have accounts and they won't be able to travel anywhere in the world. That's what will happen if Mikheil Saakashvili dies in prison," said Browder.
According to Browder, Mikheil Saakashvili is being held captive by the government of Georgia. He noted that the Magnitsky Act was specifically designed to deal with situations like this.
"In my opinion, he's being held captive by the Georgian government, which is treating him terribly. The Magnitsky Act is specifically designed to deal with situations like that. Sergei Magnitsky was in that situation -- when you torture someone slowly, until they die.
Now we need to compile a list of those officials who do not allow [Mikheil Saakashvili] appropriate treatment, who are responsible for his ill-treatment. If he is not released very quickly, then we must either immediately impose sanctions on these people or threaten them with very severe sanctions.
The very idea that the Georgian government leaves him in custody when he is in such a dire and neglected condition is clearly a violation of his rights. The Magnitsky Act is designed to deal with situations like this," Browder said.
