BREAKING NEWS: Mikhail Saakashvili, ex-President of Georgia hospitalised in serious condition

The ex- President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, was reportedly admitted to hospital in a serious condition

Reports are coming out of Georgia that 54-year-old Mikhail Saakashvili, the country’s ex-President,  is currently in hospital in a serious condition. Last Friday, May 6, independent doctors attending him said that without proper treatment he could die, according to euronews.com.

In recent months, the former President has gone on hunger strike twice, in protest against his imprisonment in October 2021. After several years spent in exile, he was arrested on his return to Georgia, and convicted of alleged abuse of power. This is an allegation that Saakashvili strenuously denies, claiming instead that the action had been politically motivated.

He first refused food for 50 days, and subsequently, for another 20. These episodes have clearly weakened his health, with the panel of doctors urging for him to be moved to a different hospital, away from what they described as ‘stress factors’.

Saakashvili – who was the third president of Georgia, from 2004 to 2013 – is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and anorexia, according to the medical professionals who examined him. They said he also shows signs of suffering from a severe neurological disorder.

They concluded that his condition could lead to a ‘fatal outcome’ if he was to develop neurological complications. These in turn could cause multi-organ dysfunction, leading to a “fatal outcome”, they warned.

Authorities in Georgia though have so far dismissed all previous medical claims about the former president’s state of health. “Saakashvili is not happy with the decline in his standard of living since he has been imprisoned”, claimed Irakli Kobakhidze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party. He added, “He just needs to eat some eggs and fresh cheese, and everything will be fine”.

Maia Sandu, the Moldovan President tweeted last Friday, May 6, “Worrying reports on @SaakashviliM’s deteriorating health. Calling on our Georgian partners to provide former president w/ appropriate medical treatment & support his recovery. The right to health is a fundamental part of human rights & of our understanding of a life in dignity”.

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