Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in a Facebook post that his prison conditions are inhumane and amount to torture under international standards. He said he is held in a small, dark, poorly ventilated cell with unsanitary conditions, and that other political prisoners face similar treatment.
Saakashvili noted that October 1 will mark five years since his imprisonment, and said such prolonged solitary confinement qualifies as torture and inhumane treatment under international norms. He said the facility sits near a cement plant he claims is linked to Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the Georgian Dream party, and that dust from the plant makes breathing difficult.
Restricted contact
Saakashvili said he has been denied phone use throughout his detention, except for brief weekly calls with his daughter, Alisa. He said he has also been denied visits from Ukraine's consul, access to Ukrainian press and video, and that lawyers are barred from bringing him photos of his children and grandson. He said international, government and parliamentary delegations have repeatedly been denied access to him.
He compared his situation to that of a prisoner of war and accused Georgian authorities of trying to break his will. He also mentioned recently watching Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" and compared himself to Odysseus.
