The Statement made by the Centre Empathy on 06/12/2021 regarding the health and legal status of the 3rd President of Georgia Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili

The Statement made by the Centre Empathy on 06/12/2021 regarding the health and legal status of the 3^rd President of Georgia Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili

Only on 18/11/2021 the Centre Empathy was given the opportunity to get familiarized with the state of health of Mikheil Saakashvili on the spot in the 18^th Penitentiary Facility in Gldani, with the violation of the legislation of Georgia and with the actual restrictions. After this, given the critical situation, we made a clear statement regarding the immediate transfer of Mikheil Saakashvili. On the night of November 19-20, he was taken to the Gori Military Hospital, where we had the opportunity to see Mikheil Saakashvili for the first time on 27/11/2021. We evaluated his state as a neuroleptic syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder related to torture and inhuman treatment was also identified, were remaining neurological symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to forced prolongation of starvation as a result of improper treatment and inadequate medical intervention. At our insistence, administration of the anti-psychotic medication, which he was taking for improper purposes starting from the Rustavi 12^th Penitentiary Facility until 27/11/2021, was changed. Misuse of antipsychotic medications against the detainee is considered by international standards to be a method of pharmacological torture and, in many cases, is intended to break down and subjugate a person. After changing the prescription (administration of the anti-psychotic medication was cancelled and an appropriate tranquilizer was prescribed to correct his state) Mikheil Saakashvili was able to take part in the trials. At the same time, the team of experts of the Centre Empathy continues to monitor the patient’s health. He still needs inpatient multi-disciplinary treatment-rehabilitation, especially in the neuro-psychological direction. It should be noted, that according to the 10/11/2021 and 12/11/2021 forensic reports of the Centre Empathy, as well as based on the video material regarding the transfer of Mikheil Saakashvili from one facility to another, published by the Ministry of Justice, at the 12^th and 18^th Facilities treatment towards him in the Prison System of Georgia was cumulatively evaluated as torture and inhuman treatment, taking into account psychological violence, physical violence, inadequate medical care, life-threatening conditions, what took place in the 18^th Facility, considering the state of health and hostile environment to the patient, in addition to inadequate administering of anti-psychotic medication. The mentioned facts are being investigated by the State Inspector’s Service of Georgia. However, so far all the officials remain in office. Due to the above, we still consider placement of Mikheil Saakashvili in the Prison System of Georgia containing threat to his life and health and inadmissible.    

Currently, based on our request of 22/11/2021, on 06/12/2021 we received the medical cards of the #12 and #18 facilities, as well as based on the patient’s request of 28/11/2021, he received the medical card from the Gori Military Hospital, which was handed over to the Centre Empathy through the lawyers on 04/12/2021. Given the complexity of the case and the volume of documentation, a final forensic report of the Centre Empathy will be submitted by 10/12/2021. The summary part will be announced after agreement with the patient and a briefing will be held at the Centre Empathy, on the exact time of which we will additionally inform the public. This report will be submitted to Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili and his lawyers for submission to the local or the European Court of Human Rights, as well as to the Public Defender and the State Inspector of Georgia and to the Public Defender of Ukraine.

President of the Centre Empathy

Head of Expertise

Mariam Jishkariani

Hotline +995 599 885468/21