US Gov't Concerned Over Mikheil Saakashvili's Health condition, Kelly Degnan says
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, February 3, 2023
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan in response to a question about Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition, told reporters that the US government is concerned over Saakashvili's situation which she assessed as 'serious'.
According to Kelly Degnan, it is the Georgian government's responsibility to ensure that Mikheil Saakashvili receives the medical services he needs.
"It is a serious situation, as we saw yesterday. My government and the governments of many other countries are watching closely and we are concerned. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that Mikheil Saakashvili receives the medical care he needs. That's what all of us are focusing on - first, to understand what his diagnosis is and what he needs, and then that the government is providing him with those services. We continue to monitor this matter," Degnan said.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan was also asked about the leaked recordings of conversation between Abashidze and Karasin about the construction of a new highway. In response, Degnan said that this is not the time for Georgia to get closer to Russia, especially when Russia still controls 20% of Georgia's territory and is attacking peaceful cities in Ukraine.
"I think the majority of Georgians are not interested in Russia right now, when Russia continues to occupy 20% of Georgia's territory, while Russia continues to brutally attack Ukrainian citizens, schools, hospitals and cities. It is trying to violate the sovereignty, territory and identity of Ukraine in the same way as it was tried in Georgia. This is not the time when Georgians are trying to get closer to Russia," said Kelly Degnan.
