U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan urges the government to take the Public Defender’s recommendations seriously over the jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s health state.

“I understand there are increasing concerns about Mr. Saakashvili’s health condition. The United States is advocating that he receives the appropriate medical care and he is seen and treated by qualified medical professionals. It is the basic human right and something that we have been calling for as well. I didn’t see the penitentiary service comments that they are providing medical care some of which Mr. Saakashvili, as they say, refuses.

We urge the government to take the Public Defender’s recommendations seriously and to carefully consider those recommendations. The Public Defender’s obligation is to defend the human rights of every citizen of Georgia. That’s a mandate under the Constitution. So, this is the right office to be checking on his condition and to provide recommendations, and we will continue to closely follow this situation,” Kelly Degnan said.

Public Defender-assigned group of doctors on April 27 published a new evaluation, saying that Mikheil Saakashvili’s health has “further deteriorated” since their previous visit to the Rustavi Prison in January.