Toxicologist gives testimony at Mikheil Saakashvili's trial, says ex-president has been poisoned
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, December 30, 2022
American expert toxicologist David Smith gave testimony at Mikheil Saakashvili's trial in Tbilisi City Court. According to him, medical records and laboratory tests show that Mikheil Saakashvili was poisoned with mercury, arsenic and barium, which causes serious toxic effects.
As Smith explained in the testimony, the medical condition of the former president is extremely serious.
"I reviewed a large amount of medical records and laboratory test results, as well as hair, nail, and blood samples. Also, extensive medical records and a 170-page report.
In my opinion, he was poisoned with various metals. Among them are mercury, arsenic and barium, which cause quite serious toxic effects. These types of heavy metals are excreted from the body after some time, in the process of excretion from the body, they poison various organs in the body. As a result, he suffered a serious brain injury," Smith said.
According to the toxicologist, Mikhail Saakashvili needs to be transferred to a medical institution where detoxification related to heavy metals and drugs will be possible, such an institution does not exist in Georgia, and Smith suggested a facility that is located in the United States of America.
"Deriving from the fact that there is no facility in Georgia that can provide specialized treatment for heavy metal intoxication, therefore, he should be transferred to a qualified medical facility, we have such a facility in the United States," said David Smith.
Smith gave a positive answer when asked about whether the dynamics of the course of Saakashvili's diseases are sharply negative and whether there is a risk of disability or death.
In addition, the expert also positively answered the question of whether Saakashvili faces an imminent risk of death due to the lack of access to treatment in Georgia.
"He didn't get proper treatment for heavy metals, which involves specific therapy, it's about the mechanism of heavy metal removal. Detoxification was also not carried out in connection with the drugs that were given to level the existing symptoms."
Smith explained that these substances are not used for medical treatment.
"They cannot be an indicator of any medical treatment because they are very toxic. These metals aggravate the health condition and also we are dealing with a causal relationship - these metals have a connection with the patient's diseases," Smith stated.
