MEPs have released a letter on Ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's state on health, saying that the EU must consider setting sanctions for those who allowed degrading and inhumane treatment of the former president.
The letter signed by 23 MEPs is addressed to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and European Council President Charles Michel.
According to the letter, despite the public defender's opinion that the Gldani medical facility in which Saakashvili was placed was unable to provide him with the appropriate medical care, Georgian authorities refused to transfer him to a civilian hospital.
''Regardless of whether Mr.Saakashvili is guilty or not guilty of the accusations against him, his human rights and human dignity have to be respected. As it currently stands, it seems that he is denied adequate medical treatment on political grounds. Furthermore, the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia refused to allow him to attend his own trial hearings in Tbilisi City Court.
The fact that European politicians have been refused the permit to visit Saakashvili in prison is also of great concern,'' the letter reads.
It goes on to say that as the MEPs believe, the European Union must take urgent measures to eradicate the pending risk of irreparable harm.
MEPs call on the European Union to ensure its rapid response to have Saakashvili's state of health adequately evaluated and guarantee high standards in protecting his health, as well as provide the possibility for the representatives of the EU to visit him in prison.
In addition, the European Union needs to seriously consider sanctions against individuals who enabled the inhumane and degrading treatment against Saakashvili,'' the letter concludes.
