Part of the NGOs believes that the government should immediately transfer the third president to an alternative medical facility. According to the joint statement issued by them, the government’s decisions relating to Mikheil Saakashvili’s treatment are not aimed at easing the severe political crisis in the country, nor are they dictated by the health interests of the prisoner.

The third sector imposes full responsibility for the current events on the government.

"According to Mikheil Saakashvili, he was taken to the medical facility by deception and use of force, which is a gross violation of his rights. We think that this decision, and its consequences, contained the risks of escalating the political situation and provoking protesters.

The Public Defender visited the third President of Georgia at the N18 Medical Institution of the Penitentiary Service last night, November 8. According to her, insulting and threatening shouts were heard against Mikheil Saakashvili. The Public Defender considers the creation of such an environment for a prisoner to be an insult to his dignity. In addition, the Public Defender clarified that the medical facility did not fully comply with the recommendations issued by the medical council and was not technically properly equipped. The Public Defender has been talking about these threats for several weeks.

Public statements by government officials indicate that the decision to transfer Saakashvili to the medical facility was made with their involvement and willingness, ignoring the recommendations of the council and the Public Defender.

We believe that the full responsibility for the current events lies with the government. Their decisions relating to Mikheil Saakashvili’s treatment are not aimed at easing the severe political crisis in the country, nor are they dictated by the health interests of the prisoner. Given the current political situation, the country may face civil confrontation as a result of unjustified steps taken by the government.

We call on the government to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation.

Inter alia, the third president of Georgia should be immediately transferred to an alternative medical institution, where his dignity, life, health and safety will be protected," reads the statement signed by:

Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI);

Transparency International Georgia (TI);

Open Society Foundation (OSGF);

International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED);

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI);

Rights Georgia;

Partnership for Human Rights (PHR).

source: IPN