TBILISI -- Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze has proposed moving jailed former President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose health has deteriorated in recent weeks, to a civilian medical clinic for treatment.
"We, as a responsible state, always act in the interests of health and life of any person. Therefore, as we would deal with any other inmate, to avoid complications, Mikheil Saakashvili will be offered to be transferred to the Vivamed clinic [in Tbilisi], where he will be checked and, if need be, treated," Bregadze said on May 10.
Bregadze's statement came the same day a Tbilisi court decided to postpone the former president's trial on embezzlement charges as he was unable to attend because of his health.
Saakashvili's relatives and supporters have demanded the authorities allow the 54-year-old politician be treated abroad.
Saakashvili, who was president from 2004 until 2013, has been in custody since October 1, when he was detained shortly after returning to Georgia from self-imposed exile.
He is serving a six-year sentence after being convicted in absentia of abuse of office, a charge he called politically motivated.
He is currently on trial on separate charges of violently dispersing an anti-government rally in November 2007 and illegal border crossing. He has rejected those charges as well, calling them trumped up.
Saakashvili's doctors and supporters say his health has deteriorated dramatically since he held two separate hunger strikes during his detention.