Georgia demands extradition of Saakashvili associates from Ukraine

Georgia demands that Ukraine extradite members of the government of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, in particular, former Minister of Justice Zurab Adeishvili, reported Georgia Online on March 11.

The Georgian government hopes that "the Ukrainian authorities will reconsider decisions that grossly contradict the spirit of friendship between Georgia and Ukraine, the Georgian and Ukrainian peoples."

Read also: ‘Will never be tolerated’ – Georgians will not allow a pro-Russian government – Georgian President

The statement said that the Ukrainian authorities "need to hand over" to Georgia "criminals" who currently hold high positions in the Ukrainian government.

The Georgian government said that after, Adeishvili's visit as part of Ukraine's official delegation to the EU and Germany, they express "concern over the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities towards a country friendly to Ukraine - Georgia and the Georgian people."

The Georgian authorities added that "special concern" is caused by the presence of Zurab Adeishvili as an adviser to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, as well as the presence of Giorgi Lortkipanidze as deputy head of the Counterintelligence Service of Ukraine.

Mikheil Saakashvili's imprisonment - what is known

In September 2021, Saakashvili returned to Georgia, where he was arrested by the Georgian authorities. Several cases have been opened against the politician, in which he was sentenced to six years in prison. In protest, the politician went on hunger strike several times, insisting that he was arrested on political charges.

Read also: Ukraine’s foreign ministry summons Georgian ambassador over Saakashvili’s health

According to Saakashvili's lawyers, family, and supporters, the politician's health condition is extremely serious as a result of the hunger strike and ill-treatment, and he needs treatment abroad.

In November 2022, the politician's lawyer, Shalva Khachapuridze, said that Saakashvili was diagnosed with dementia and tuberculosis. According to the politician himself, he could have been poisoned by Russian agents.

In February 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Georgian government was killing Saakashvili and called for him to be released for treatment in Ukraine or another country.

In July, Saakashvili appeared in court for the first time in a long time. Opposition media in Georgia published a photo of him showing a significant weight loss.

On July 4, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Giorgi Zakarashvili had been given a strong protest over the deteriorating condition of the imprisoned Saakashvili.

On July 12, after six months of delay, doctors from Poland were allowed to visit Saakashvili.

Read also: Georgia summons Polish diplomat after Polish doctors visit Saakashvili

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