Page 9 - GEORptJun22

2.4 Georgian ex-president Saakashvili transferred to clinic
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is serving a sentence in Rustavi Prison, has been transferred to the Vivamed private clinic on 12 May. Amid reports of Saakashvili's deteriorating health, the Georgian government proposed on May 10 that he be transferred to the Vivamed clinic for examination "in order to avoid possible complications". Saakashvili agreed to the proposal but set certain conditions for it.
It is not yet known whether the country's authorities agreed to Saakashvili's conditions. However, on 11 May the Justice Department criticised the ex-president for issuing "ultimatums" and urged him to unconditionally agree to a medical examination. A panel of experts set up by the ombudsman said in late April that the former president's health had "significantly deteriorated" since his January visit. According to doctors, Mikheil Saakashvili is in a negative catabolic state, which means that the body consumes proteins released during the decay of its own organs, which leads to weight loss due to loss of muscle mass.
Last November, during Saakashvili's weeks-long hunger strike, Georgian Dream authorities refused to transfer him to a civilian hospital on the grounds that supporters might have kidnapped him from a less-guarded civilian hospital. Later, the former president was taken to the Gori military hospital for further treatment.
2.5 Georgia ruling party claims ‘certain foreign forces’ are pushing the country towards war
Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on 10 May that certain foreign forces are pushing Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili to return to politics and “engage Georgia in a war”.
Similar odd claims have also been made by pro-government experts, giving the impression of a coordinated campaign. Their statements follow the delay in the transfer of about $600mn to Bidzina Ivanishvili by the Swiss bank Credit Suisse, which the founder of the ruling party won from the bank in court. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the bank called "geopolitical circumstances" to justify the delay.
According to Kobakhidze, this behaviour of the bank was only part of a coordinated campaign from abroad, which was complemented by other elements, in particular, the recall of the Ukrainian ambassador from Georgia and the recently released secret audio records, according to which Ivanishvili has business ties with a Russian oligarch who is under sanctions.
“If someone makes such an attempt to bring Bidzina Ivanishvili back into Georgian politics against his will, in order to drag the country into a war (in Ukraine)... he doesn’t know Bidzina Ivanishvili and his character well,” Kobakhidze said.
Asked by a journalist if he sees the United States behind such "coordination",
9 GEORGIA Country Report June 2022 www.intellinews.com