Volodymyr Zelenskyy Says Georgian Authorities are 'Slowly Killing' Mikheil Saakashvili
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, February 2, 2023
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated at a press conference held together with the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen that the government of Georgia is 'slowly killing' the former president of the country, Mikheil Saakashvili.
Zelenskyy said that before the meeting with van der Bellen, he was given a photo depicting the current state of Mikheil Saakashvili.
"Once he was the president of Georgia. They [photos] were given to me by Davit Arakhamia. I would like you to see how he looks.
I believe that today the government of Georgia - what they are doing: they are killing him [Saakashvili]. You know they poisoned him and now they are slowly, sorry, killing him.
I would like the press to see what is happening: the public torture of a Ukrainian citizen. I will not discuss the issue - why the former president of Georgia was arrested, what are the consequences for Georgian politics and democracy. This is their internal issue. I am talking about the detention of Mikheil Saakashvili, a citizen of Ukraine, who is publicly tortured every day. And I think that they have a goal - to kill him," said the President of Ukraine.
The third president of Georgia, who is in prison, participated in recent court proceedings remotely. He addressed the court in Georgian and Ukrainian languages and said that "the only thing he is asking for is to provide adequate means of treatment".
The judge asked him about his health condition, to which he replied that he is ill. He requested to apply in the Ukrainian language.
"I gave Georgia all my knowledge... now I gave my health... if necessary, I will give my life." "My condition has worsened," he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned the Georgian government's political position and asked "who are they siding with" since Russian government treats their politicians "the same way":
"Are they neutral or towards Russia? Because Russia treats its politicians in the same way as today the leadership of Georgia treats not its politicians, but the citizens of Ukraine. And so again: are they neutral? Or are they towards Russia? Or are they just against Ukraine, etc.?" Zelensky said.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine treats this as an internal issue with great respect, but does not understand such an attitude towards Saakashvili.
