Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeals to Georgian gov't to transfer Saakashvili for treatment, Chairman of 'Georgian Dream' Irakli Kobakhidze responds
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appealed to the authorities of Georgia and asked to transfer Mikheil Saakashvili for treatment in a released video addressing the government,
In the video address, Zelenskyy talked about the health condition of the former president of Georgia and assessed ex-president Saakashvili's situation as 'cruel'.
"I would like to appeal to friends and just honest people in Georgia. You probably all see Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition. Therefore, I appeal to the Georgian people and the Georgian government - it is necessary to show mercy, especially on Christmas Eve.
What is happening to Mikheil [Saakashvili] now is cruelty. This does not suit Georgia. This has to stop. Please make a decision that can save his life. Transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to one of the clinics in Ukraine, any other European country or America. Now is the time to make a good move. Glory to Ukraine!" said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Mykhailo Podolyak, the adviser of the Office of the President of Ukraine said that Ukraine is ready to receive Mikheil Saakashvili.
"It's impossible to watch someone you know die live. It is impossible to watch the history of Georgia and the death of its president in front of the eyes of the civilized world. Ukraine is ready to receive Mikheil Saakashvili, to guarantee his safety and proper treatment. Georgia, make the right choice," he wrote on Twitter.
In response to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement regarding Mikheil Saakashvili, The Chairman of the ruling party Georgian Dream Irakli Kobakhidze told Imedi TV that the reason Ukrainian government feels responsible for Saakashvili's health is that they were 'directly involved' in sending Saakashvili to Georgia:
"We used to say that the people who brought Mikheil Saakashvili to Georgia are active for his release, they have a kind of responsibility towards Saakashvili.
This statement by Zelensky only confirmed everything that we have been saying all this time, the Ukrainian government was directly involved in the special operation to send Saakashvili to Georgia, which fortunately failed, and he also has its share of responsibility towards Saakashvili," said Irakli Kobakhidze.
