Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated yesterday, Monday, that he would summon the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine following what he described as the "public execution" of imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who appeared sickly and emaciated during a court session.
In his nighttime video message, Zelensky urged Georgian authorities to allow Saakashvili, who holds Ukrainian citizenship, to come to Kyiv for treatment. He stated, "The world has once again witnessed how the Kremlin, unfortunately through the Georgian government, is killing Mikheil Saakashvili," emphasizing that "Ukraine has repeatedly called on Georgian authorities to stop this public execution. No authority in Europe has the right to execute people. Life is one of the core European values."
He requested that the "Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summon the Georgian ambassador and propose his return to his country within 48 hours for consultations on this matter."
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed that it had been decided to summon the ambassador today, Tuesday, for a "stern discussion," and called on Georgia to end its "mockery" of the former president. It remains unclear whether the ambassador would be expelled.
Saakashvili, who led former Soviet Georgia from 2004 to 2013, is serving a six-year prison sentence for abuse of power, a charge he and his supporters claim is politically motivated. In a video recorded during a court session, the emaciated Saakashvili lifted his shirt to show his protruding ribs while the judges were not in the courtroom.
Saakashvili is requesting to be transferred abroad for treatment. He has gone on hunger strikes multiple times during his imprisonment, claiming he is being poisoned.
