Polish officials indicate that a medical aid team is prepared to travel to Georgia to treat former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Małgorzata Gosiewska stated she hoped the Georgian side would grant the final consent so Polish doctors could enter the hospital and conduct a thorough examination of Saakashvili’s condition.
Polish medical team ready to assist Saakashvili
Government spokesperson Piotr Müller noted that in mid-March the Polish humanitarian and medical relief team was ready to depart for Georgia to provide medical assistance to the former president. Gosiewska, speaking at the PAP Studio, confirmed that while much progress had been made, the last hurdle remained the Georgian authorities’ approval for Polish medics to enter the hospital and perform a comprehensive assessment of Saakashvili’s health. She added that she hoped the permission would be granted that day.
Gosiewska explained that Poland was awaiting the final consent from the Georgian Ministry of Health and suggested that the process had faced deliberate delays over the past three weeks. She alleged that obstacles were being created even at the stage of selecting doctors and verifying their qualifications.
She credited Polish diplomacy and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for their roles in Brussels, noting that the medical committee had an umbrella under the European Union. While the mission originated in Poland, it carried the weight of an EU decision, and its findings would be addressed within EU institutions. She expressed optimism that the resulting report would lead to Saakashvili’s transfer to a Polish hospital for thorough treatment.
Gosiewska described Saakashvili’s health as highly precarious, stressing the urgency of assistance and expressing hope for another opportunity to help him go abroad for proper medical care.
In discussing the Saakashvili case, it is recalled that the former Georgian leader was detained in October 2021 after returning from exile. In 2018 a Georgian court sentenced him in absentia to six years in prison for alleged abuses of power. Saakashvili has long disputed these claims, arguing they are politically motivated.
During 2021 Saakashvili was moved to a prison hospital amid a hunger strike and concerns about his health. A toxicology report later suggested exposure to heavy metals and other substances, with experts noting symptoms that aligned with severe health deterioration observed during captivity. A 2022 report by a Georgian NGO, Empathy, which specialized in torture rehabilitation, documented more than 20 health issues, including several serious conditions, and concluded that he could not safely remain in prison. Despite these findings, a February 2022 court decision rejected his requests for release or health-related postponement. Saakashvili himself had repeatedly requested permission to travel abroad for treatment, and Polish authorities had signaled willingness to cooperate.
The discussion surrounding Gosiewska’s remarks highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts and the ongoing medical assessment process for Saakashvili, with both Polish and European bodies involved in reviewing the case and facilitating potential cross-border medical care.
Additional notes from the discussion touched on broader regional concerns, reflecting the heightened attention to Saakashvili’s condition and the political implications of any medical transfer. The Polish position emphasized humanitarian considerations and the desire to ensure Saakashvili receives appropriate care, while observers noted the delicate balance between domestic political assessments and international diplomacy.
(Source: wPolityce)