PM's Statements Push Mikheil Saakashvili to adopt Stricter Forms of Hunger Strike - Lomjaria

The Office of the Public Defender monitors the health of the third president and the conditions in the penitentiary institution. Nino Lomjaria calls on the penitentiary service and the government not to make statements that will pose an additional threat to Mikheil Saakashvili's health.

The ombudsman sees the danger that by issuing similar statements, an inmate on a hunger strike may refuse to receive medical care as well.

"Disclosure of personal information, as the Penitentiary Service has done, is wrong and violates the rights of the prisoner. The statements that have been made, including by the Prime Minister, I think are pushing the prisoner on a hunger strike to move on to more severe forms of protest. Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition will probably worsen every day," Nino Lomjaria said.