Ombudsperson treats posting video with Saakashvili as humiliation of his dignity

The release of a video in which the prison staff is rudely treating Mikhail Saakashvili is violating his right to privacy and insults his honour and dignity, Nino Lomdjariya the Georgia's Ombudsperson, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" on September 30, Mikheil (Mikhail) Saakashvili, a former Georgian president returned to his homeland and was soon arrested. On October 1, he went on a hunger strike in the Rustavi Prison. In November, the authorities admitted that Saakashvili's health had deteriorated and transferred him to the prison hospital in Tbilisi, despite the fact that the politician himself and his supporters insisted on his hospitalization to a civilian clinic.

On November 11, the Georgian Penitentiary Service released video records showing the transfer of Mikheil (Mikhail) Saakashvili, a former Georgian President, to the prison hospital. The politician insulted by his acts and words the employees of the Service, the head of the country's Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has stated.

The first video, which has no sound, shows how prison wards pull Saakashvili out of the ambulance against his will and, grabbing him by arms and legs, carry him into the prison hospital. The second video shows the preceding events. It was made in the ambulance, when Saakashvili refused to get out understanding that he was brought not to the city hospital, and angrily shouted: "I won't leave on my own free will; let my advocates and family come here ... I won't take a single step with my own feet! .. I won't do a single medical procedure of my own free will." He also demanded to be taken back to the special prison in Rustavi. He addressed his convoy guards in a disrespectful manner and insulted them, as it follows from the video, which was watched by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Nino Lomdjariya, the Georgian Ombudsperson, has criticized the Penitentiary Service for the release of these videos, calling them a violation of Saakashvili's right to honour, dignity and privacy. "Analysis of the videos has confirmed that the transfer of Mikhail Saakashvili to institution No. 118 was carried out fraudulently and against his will," the Ombudsperson said in her statement sent to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The Ombudsperson demands that the Minister of Justice and the Special Penitentiary Service respect the prisoner's rights and stop violating the respect, dignity and personal data of Mikhail Saakashvili," the statement says.

The Georgian State Inspector's Service has also treated the release of these videos as unacceptable, since it is necessary to protect residents' honour and dignity.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 12, 2021 at 09:33 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.