Shalva Papuashvili, Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Wednesday, said, “nobody questioned the legitimacy of the judgement against Mikheil Saakashvili during yesterday’s EP debates.”

According to Papuashvili, “the issue of whether Mikheil Saakashvili is legally serving his sentence has come to a full stop, and everyone had to admit that Saakashvili’s sentence is legal.”

“No one mentioned the word political prisoner, illegal sentence, or release due to an illegal arrest yesterday. Regarding Mikheil Saakashvili’s health condition, I say once again, we are a constitutional state, but also a humane state that takes particular care of prisoners. The state cares for Mikheil Saakashvili,” the Speaker underscored.

For the record, MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, on Tuesday, said “Georgia is now a captured state. Democratic backsliding continues to accelerate, the justice system is ruled by clans, but prominent cases are politically motivated.” She noted that “we need to free Misha [jailed ex-President of Georgia] for humanitarian reasons.”

MEP David McAllister also said that the political situation “hampers the country’s development.” In his remarks, he stressed that “political leaders in Georgia must stop aggressive verbal attacks against the members of the European Parliament and representatives of other partner countries.” McAllister called on the Georgian authorities to release Saakashvili and “allow him to undergo proper medical treatment.”