A Polish medical team has begun a comprehensive health assessment of Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia, following a request from Polish officials. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the move on social media, highlighting solidarity with a former Georgian president and a commitment to his wellbeing.
Saakashvili, who led Georgia from 2004 to 2013 and later headed Ukraine’s Odessa region from 2015 to 2016, is currently serving a six-year prison term for abuse of power while in office. His supporters contend that the sentence is politically charged and aimed at sidelining him from public life.
The former leader was imprisoned in October 2021 and has since undertaken several hunger strikes inside the facility. He was admitted to a hospital at the end of 2021. Human rights advocates, both in Georgia and internationally, have voiced concerns that his health has deteriorated to a level that might threaten his life.
In early July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Georgian authorities to allow transfer of a civilian detainee, Mykhailo Saakashvili, to Ukraine for necessary treatment. In remarks that stressed the primacy of human life, he called on international partners not to ignore the situation and to act, noting that no European government has the right to execute a prisoner. The Ukrainian leader underscored the seriousness of Saakashvili’s condition and the urgency of medical intervention (sources: Ukrainian presidency communications and regional media reports).
You should apologize for placing me in this situation, Saakashvili reportedly said during a trial in Tbilisi, addressing Georgian authorities while participating remotely. His remark was cited by a Ukrainian news outlet and reflects the tense atmosphere surrounding the proceedings.
Mission of Polish doctors
Georgian officials indicated that Polish physicians will determine whether the former president will receive appropriate medical care within the country’s borders. The Georgian portal Civil.ge reported that the European Union medical mission is involved and that the Georgian Health Ministry has granted permission for foreign doctors to examine Saakashvili at the Vivamedi clinic.
The aim of the medical review is to establish whether Saakashvili is receiving suitable care inside the prison clinic and to assess his overall health needs (Civil.ge, corroborated by regional news outlets).
The examination is described as a decisive step toward ensuring Saakashvili receives the correct treatment plan, with the team of Polish doctors prepared to provide a thorough evaluation across multiple specialties.
The Georgian authorities initially agreed to admit the medical commission, though at times there were attempts to delay or modify the process. Polish officials noted this friction and underscored that a prompt, comprehensive assessment was essential to determine the next steps in Saakashvili’s care (statements from Polish officials cited by regional media and press agencies).
According to Polish officials, the operation is coordinated under an EU umbrella, and the aim is to produce a detailed report that will guide future actions depending on the doctors’ findings. The deputy speaker of Poland’s parliament emphasized that the intention was for the examination to happen in a Polish facility if feasible, with EU coordination to support any ensuing decisions.
Georgian leadership has been urged to recognize the medical team’s authority and to cooperate fully with the evaluation. The deputy speaker noted that, in some early discussions, Georgian sides questioned the credentials of the visiting doctors, but international diplomacy helped move the process forward and gain broader consensus among EU member states.
The Polish participants are described as among the nation’s leading clinicians across several areas of medicine, assembled specifically to provide a full, independent health review of the former president. The overarching goal is to determine Saakashvili’s medical needs and to ensure a robust, transparent assessment of his condition. When the team completes its work, a formal report will be issued and used to inform subsequent actions.
Observers have stressed the human dimension of the case, noting that the subject’s health has drawn attention to the state of medical care within the country and the broader political context. The ongoing evaluation is seen as part of a wider dialogue about patient rights, international standards of medical treatment, and the role of foreign medical expertise in high-profile political cases.
As the process unfolds, commentators remind readers that health decisions in such scenarios can have far-reaching implications for domestic policy, international relations, and the balance between justice and humanitarian concern.