Polish MEP Anna Fotyga Refused Entry in Prison to Meet Saakashvili

By Nika Gamtsemlidze

Monday, November 15

Before visiting Georgia, Fotyga criticized the government, saying that they were responsible for the ex-president's well-being

Samadashvili met with Anna Fotyga and told reporters that the government had turned its back to the EU

Polish MEP Anna Fotyga was denied a visit to Mikheil Saakashvili. She wrote about it on her personal Twitter page.

“I regret the lack of goodwill and transparency on the side of the government of Georgia and reiterate that there still is a chance of solving this situation. The Government of Georgia is fully responsible for the life and health of the former president,” wrote Fotyga.

Fotyga arrived in Georgia on November 12. A few days before her visit to the country, she said that the European Parliament was concerned about Saakashvili and his situation and that what was happening to Saakashvili was wrong.

Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has been on hunger strike since October 1. He is currently in the Gldani prison.

Opposition MP Salome Samadashvili met with Anna Fotyga and told reporters that the government had turned its back on the EU by refusing Fotyga's visit to Saakashvili.

“Fotyga is our longtime friend, we have an informal meeting to summarize the impressions she has from the visit. This is an unprecedented thing, I do not remember the Georgian government ever denying the member of the European Parliament the right to meet a prisoner in jail,” Samadashvili stated.

Former President Saakashvili said that he is thankful for Fotyga's solidarity and says that those who did not let her in the prison will soon not be in power and “Georgia will meet Fotyga with old-fashioned hospitality and gratitude”.

Fotyga visited Elene Khostaria, who has been on a hunger strike for 2 weeks.

“Fotyga visited Georgia to meet with Saakashvili, and she also came to me. It is a great honor to meet her. We must understand that during such a major attack on democracy, the visits of our European patterns are friends is very important,” said Khoshtaria.

Opposition parties have criticized the government, saying the government has finally turned its back on Europe. The chairman of the Georgian Dream posted an extensive Facebook post on the subject, criticizing some of his European partners and calling them foreign lobbyists of the radical opposition.

This is not the first time for ruling party representatives to make such comments about Fotyga or other MEPs. The ruling team has repeatedly criticized Anna Fotyga for the critical tone that the MEP has towards them.