In a significant development, Polish doctors have initiated a thorough medical examination of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for abuse of power. The medical assessment aims to address concerns raised by Saakashvili and his supporters regarding the political nature of his punishment.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki expressed his support, stating, “We do not abandon our friends in times of need. In response to my request, a team of Polish doctors from the Humanitarian and Medical Aid Team has begun a comprehensive medical examination of President Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia.”
The examination is a result of persistent efforts by Poland and other European Union (EU) countries to secure the opportunity for medical evaluations, despite resistance from the authorities in Tbilisi.
Discussions regarding the possibility of Saakashvili receiving treatment in Poland were initiated as early as mid-March, with the former president expressing his desire to be examined by a group of Polish doctors and receive treatment in their country.
Saakashvili, who was imprisoned in October 2021, resorted to multiple hunger strikes to draw attention to his situation. By the end of the same year, he required hospitalization. Many Georgian and Western human rights advocates have voiced concerns about the severity of his health condition, which they believe poses a significant risk to his life. The current medical examination aims to address these concerns and provide an objective assessment of Saakashvili’s health status.
The medical examination conducted by Polish doctors is expected to shed light on his health condition and contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding his case.
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