United National Movement (UNM) opposition party member Khatia Dekanoidze said on Monday that “those involved in human rights violations against jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili should be added to the Magnitsky Act list.”

She went on to say that “we had a crucial cooperation with our international partners on this matter,” adding that “the international response and the involvement of partners around Mikheil Saakashvili’s case have increased significantly.”

In Dekanoidze’s view, the so-called Magnitsky’s list should include Justice Minister Rati Bregadze, senior officials of the penitentiary service and persons involved in Saakashvili’s treatment.

On 7 January, Saakashvili sent a letter to Bill Browder, CEO of Heritage foundation, saying, “my request is to help local Georgian groups with drafting a new Magnitsky list in advance, not waiting for a lethal outcome.”

Browder responded to the ex-president: “Have your team document, who is withholding medical treatment, who is responsible for the poisoning, who is responsible for the torture, and I will do whatever I can to bring this to the attention of Western governments for Magnitsky sanctions.”