Mikheil Saakashvili returns to prison following long term hospitlisation

Mikheil Saakashvili returns to prison following long term hospitlisation
Reuters

Former Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili has returned to prison in Georgia following an extended hospital stay which saw him receive treatment at a civilian hospital in Tbilisi.

In a statement released by the Special Penitentiary Service, it said that Saakashvili's transfer was based on the attending physician's decision.

“As is known to the public, convicted Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred to the Vivamedi clinic on May 12, 2022, to receive inpatient medical care, where he had remained until now and was provided with the relevant medical services.

In accordance with Georgian legislation, the return of a patient from a civilian sector hospital to a penitentiary facility takes place based on the attending physician’s decision, considering the patient’s health condition.

Since the health condition of convicted Mikheil Saakashvili is satisfactory and he no longer requires inpatient treatment, he has been discharged from the civilian sector clinic and returned to Penitentiary Establishment No. 12, where he will continue serving his sentence under the general regime,” the statement said.

Mikheil "Misha" Saakashvili is a Georgian-Ukrainian politician. He was the third president of Georgia for two consecutive terms from January 2004 to November 2013, with a break from November 2007 to January 2008 after he stepped down following anti-government demonstrations and ahead of an early presidential election. 

He was arrested in October 2021 after re-entering the country on his return from exile just ahead of local elections in the same month. 

Saakashvili had been convicted in absentia on corruption charges which he denies. 

He was transferred to Vivamedi, a civilian hospital in Tbilisi where he has been receiving treatment till this moment.

Rights groups have repeatedly called for Saakashvili's release on health grounds with Amnesty International accusing Georgian authorities of denying the former President adequate medical care, putting him at grave risk of death, permanent disability or other irreversible damage to his health.

A Georgian court sentenced the politician to another four years in prison in March 2025 for illegally crossing the border when he returned to country from exile in 2021.

The added four and half years brought his total sentence to more than 12 years. 

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