Imprisonment interferes with treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia

The British expert, psychiatrist, Cornelius Katona spoke at today's trial about the recommendations he gave regarding the health condition of the third president.

"Psychological treatment will not be effective if Saakashvili is in an environment where he does not feel safe and feels the presence of danger. Saakashvili has dementia and this provision is in full agreement with Dr. Goldsmith's findings. I also understand that according to Georgian legislation, relevant acts of the Ministry of Health, it is determined that People with dementia should not be in prison. His incarceration is an obstacle to his post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia being adequately treated. I agree with Dr. Lahan and Goldsmith in point 12.5 that Saakashvili should be treated in a medical facility in a country that he I feel safe," says Katona.

In addition, to the question of lawyer Shalva Khachapuridze - is Mikheil Saakashvili seriously ill, the psychiatrist answers - yes. According to him: "And the state of health will be the main barrier for him to serve his sentence."

And to the lawyer's question, what will happen if Mikheil Saakashvili stays in prison, he answers that the diseases he has will get worse. "He has quite severe cognitive disorders, the causes of which are difficult to determine, and if the cause is not found and appropriate treatment is not prescribed, the severity of the cognitive disorders will deepen", says the doctor.