US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said the United States continues to closely follow the imprisonment and health condition of jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Kelly Degnan urged the government to transfer the hunger-striker ex-president to a fully equipped medical clinic, while she called on Saakashvili to follow the recommendations of doctors.

“In light of the medical team’s recent assessment that he is at high risk and needs urgent treatment, as well as the Public Defender’s statement today that Gldani prison hospital #18 is not sufficient, we urge the government to ensure that Mr. Saakshvili immediately is provided with medical care that he needs at a fully equipped medical facility.

We also urge Mr. Saakashvili to please accept the recommendations of his doctors and accept the medical care they say he needs. This is obviously a very sensitive and emotional situation but right now the priority needs to be on addressing Mr. Saakshvili’s mental health and physical well-being.

It’s our strong recommendation to the government to ensure that he is provided with the medical and mental healthcare that he needs. He should be treated fairly and with dignity in accordance with Georgian law and international standards. In any country, the government has a responsibility to protect inmates from abuse, including mental abuse, as well as providing for their medical well-being and their safety.

So, again we urge the government to please ensure that Mr. Saakshvili is immediately provided with the medical and mental healthcare that he needs in a fully equipped medical facility,” Kelly Degnan said.

Transferred to N18 Gldani prison infirmary from N12 Rustavi Prison last evening, jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili said he refused to cooperate with the medical personnel and would only meet his personal physician.