U.S. Senators Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen and Ron Johnson, chair and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and Ben Cardin, chair of the Helsinki Commission, issued a joint statement in response to the treatment of Georgian ex-president, Mikheil Saakashvili:

“We are closely following former President Saakashvili’s situation and treatment, which is concerning to friends of Georgia in the U.S. Senate. Although we cautioned that Mr. Saakashvili’s return would add to Georgia’s polarized political situation, Mr. Saakashvili, like all incarcerated persons awaiting trial, deserves to be treated fairly and with dignity, in accordance with international standards and Georgian law. We are concerned this is not currently the case.

We urge the government of Georgia to ensure the independent medical team’s advice is acted upon immediately to provide Mr. Saakashvili the medical care he needs. We are watching the trial process closely and stress the importance of ensuring the process is fair, transparent, and in-person. The right to a fair and speedy trial is a hallmark for any democracy, and this case is no exception,” the Senators said.

They continued, “We urgently call upon the Government of Georgia to prioritize the seriousness of Mr. Saakashvili’s situation, and take heed of the implications for the political stability of Georgia. Now is the time to put aside political differences for the benefit of the Georgian people. As this situation grows more dire by the day, so does the risk of a miscalculation that could result in Mr. Saakashvili’s serious injury or worse. Such a tragedy would have a lasting negative impact on Georgia’s democratic aspirations. We encourage all parties to act in the best interest of the Georgian people,” reads the statement.

Jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred from the Gldani N18 prison infirmary to Gori Military Hospital late last night. He has been on a hunger strike since October 1.