The opposition United National Movement party has issued a statement, reading that the assessment of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) is further evidence that ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili is not receiving proper treatment in the Vivamedi clinic and is a victim of degrading treatment.

The UNM claims that Saakashvili is a political prisoner and emphasizes the impact of his political imprisonment on the opportunity for a fair and competitive environment in the 2024 elections.

“President Saakashvili should be released from political imprisonment, and the majority of the Georgian population demands this. The political imprisonment of the leader of the main opposition political party fundamentally destroys the opportunity for the Georgian people to express their will in a free, fair, and competitive environment in the 2024 elections. It should be noted that conducting the 2024 elections in a free, fair and competitive environment is a prerequisite for opening negotiations on EU membership,” the UNM states.

The opposition party calls for Saakashvili’s release, asserting that his health condition and treatment in Vivamedi are consequences of his political imprisonment.

“The European Committee concludes that the situation in the Vivamedi clinic is repressive, humiliating, and unfavourable for improving his health condition,” the UNM added.

The CPT today has published a report on prisoners’ conditions in VivaMedi Clinic, including Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, and issued recommendations.