TBILISI: Irakli Zarkua, a member of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, on Friday stated that Ukraine would be unable in ensuring security for the currently imprisoned ex-president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, due to the ongoing Russian hostilities in the country. Saakashvili had been summoned for interrogation for a case he was involved in.
“Amidst war and trouble happening there, who will look after his security?” asked Zarkua.
I am sorry, I can not clearly understand the motive why he should be handed over to Ukraine. If it is so important, the relevant technologies are developed that can easily facilitate his direct involvement and interrogation; there is no such issue.Â
Especially if we say that he is ailing and so on, we should not disturb that person. He is in a medical facility where he is under treatment and undergoing recovery and rehabilitation. So, it’s better we should not bother him”, Zarkua said.Â
Ex-President’s advocate Shota Tutberidze stated that the Ukrainian court ruled within the ongoing case on the violation of Saakashvili’s rights, referring to the transfer of Saakashvili to Ukraine to testify in the said process.
His advocate explained that the Ukrainian lawyer of Saakashvili submitted a relevant motion: “We are discussing his transfer. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine will further send out the decision taken by Boryspil court to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which would further discuss the implementation of this decision,” stated the lawyer.
Saakashvili has been behind bars since last night after he spent years in self-imposed political exile.
