Statement by the Coordinator-General of the Global Citizens in connection with the preparation of an appeal to the national authorities of the sovereign state of Georgia, on providing an opportunity for international human rights defenders of the Movement to visit Georgia to meet with Mikheil Saakashvili and the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia, in order to find a solution acceptable to all interested parties regarding Saakashvili’s treatment abroad
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The Global Citizens International Movement is closely monitoring the situation surrounding Saakashvili’s health and will make every effort to prevent any unforeseen situation.
We are sympathetic to the position of the Georgian national authorities that the demand of third parties for the immediate release of the politician has no legal basis and can be interpreted by Georgia as clear and gross interference in the activities of the judicial authorities of a sovereign State.
At the same time, the plight of Ukrainian and Georgian politician, President of Georgia (2004-2013) Mikheil Saakashvili, should be quickly resolved by the national authorities of Georgia following the norms of Georgian domestic law, generally accepted principles and standards of international humanitarian law.
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Until Saakashvili receives medical care and medical rehabilitation as a necessary phase of treatment, further discussion of Mikheil Saakashvili’s activities as head of state, instead of ensuring Saakashvili’s Right to Life, the first human right enshrined in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, cannot be explained or justified.
Unfortunately, the thesis used by the Georgian opposition forces leads to the idea that the national authorities are interested in the demise of Mikheil Saakashvili.
The paradox is that, foremost, for today’s Georgian authorities, the development of the situation according to this scenario is entirely unacceptable.
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The only acceptable formula for resolving the current crisis may be the toolkit of “good offices” and other mediation services, giving hope of finding all the necessary conditions not to cross the thin line separating the interpretation of the law from its supplementation with new rules that will guarantee the citizens of the sovereign state of Georgia – the Right to Life.
In President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address to the U.S. Congress, the U.S. President said some very remarkable words that characterize the situation with Mikheil Saakashvili in the best way possible, “Fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict gets us nowhere. “
Securing Saakashvili’s Right to Life will be a moment of clarity regarding the future political strategy of both the Government and the Opposition forces in Georgia for many years to come.
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At present, the preparation of an appeal to the national authorities of the sovereign state of Georgia to provide an opportunity for international human rights defenders of the Movement to visit Georgia to meet with Mikheil Saakashvili and the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia to find a solution acceptable to all interested parties regarding Saakashvili’s treatment abroad.
The Movement, as a gesture of goodwill, hopes for the support of Her Excellency Kelly Degnan, the US Ambassador to Georgia, in our appeal to the national authorities of Georgia and assistance in resolving the above-mentioned issue.
A request to that effect will be sent to the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.
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