Ukraine's MFA summons Georgia's Ambassador over Saakashvili's deteriorating condition

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported this. 

"Pursuant to the order of the President of Ukraine, on July 4, Georgian Ambassador Giorgi Zakarashvili was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to express a strong protest against the significant deterioration of the condition of Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili, who is imprisoned in Georgia," the press service writes.

Reportedly, the diplomat was told that such an attitude towards the former president of Georgia is absolutely unacceptable. The country's authorities must stop abusing the Ukrainian citizen.

"In this regard, Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Giorgi Zakarashvili was asked to return to Tbilisi for consultations to find ways to resolve the situation," the ministry explained.

Ukraine has expressed its readiness to discuss the issue of Mikheil Saakashvili's transportation for treatment and care without delay.

Ambassador of Georgia to be expelled from Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili with the help of Georgia. Tbilisi called this statement offensive.

Later, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported that the Georgian ambassador had been summoned for a "tough conversation" over the situation with Mikheil Saakashvili.

"The Georgian authorities deserve a tough reaction from Ukraine because of their treatment of Mikheil Saakashvili. Tomorrow morning (July 4 - ed.), the Georgian ambassador will be at the Foreign Ministry, he will have a tough conversation, and he will go to Georgia. We believe that Georgia should stop abusing Mikheil Saakashvili and return him to us, as he is a citizen of Ukraine," the statement says. 

Georgia's response

The head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, called Zelenskyy's statement offensive.

"Regarding yesterday's move by the President of Ukraine regarding Mikheil Saakashvili, I do not want to delve into this topic for one simple reason: it concerns the president of a country at war. But in general, this position of the authorities is offensive to us," the politician said.

At the same time, he emphasized that official Tbilisi does not intend to spoil relations with Kyiv.

"Our desire is to remain even in a mode of unilateral friendship with the Ukrainian authorities, because this country is now at war," Kobakhidze said.

Details of Saakashvili's case

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is currently in prison - back in 2018, he was sentenced in absentia to three years in prison in a case of abuse of power during the pardon of those convicted of the murder of businessman Sandro Girgvliani and to 6 years in prison in a case of beating MP Valeriy Gelashvili in 2005.

Saakashvili is also accused of embezzling budget funds and illegally crossing the state border. In addition, after his return in October 2021, the Georgian authorities claimed that he and his associates "planned to kill opposition members to provoke unrest and blame the authorities," although there are no proceedings on this fact.

In protest, Saakashvili went on a hunger strike, after which his health condition deteriorated. Saakashvili's lawyers, relatives and supporters emphasize the deterioration of the politician's health and call for him to be sent abroad for treatment.

On February 6, the Tbilisi City Court refused to satisfy the petition of Saakashvili's lawyers and did not postpone the execution of the sentence due to the former president's health. A representative of the Georgian Penitentiary Service, Nika Abramishvili, said that the report submitted to the court did not contain reliable information about the severity of Saakashvili's illness and could not be a reason for a postponement.

At the same time, Saakashvili called the court hearing a "laughingstock" and his sentence a "death sentence." And in April, the former president said he was "close to death" in the hospital where he was transferred from prison.

On June 3, it was reported that former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is convinced that Ukraine will soon win, Georgia will be able to return its territories occupied by Russia, and the Ukrainian-Georgian border will run along the Psou River.

On June 17, the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, announced that he intends to actively participate in Georgian politics, a year after he declared that he was no longer interested in it.

On June 29, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected as inadmissible Saakashvili's lawsuit against Ukraine, in which he sought to recognize the violation of his rights through the deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship and expulsion.

On July 3, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili took part in a court hearing via video link and revealed his serious physical condition after treatment.