Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged the Georgian ambassador to Kyiv to return home and make efforts to save Georgia's jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili after a footage surfaced, showing him looking lean and skinny.

Saakashvili, who was the leader of Georgia from 2004 to 2013, was imprisoned in the year 2021 after coming back from banishment on abuse of power charges that rights groups condemn as politically motivated.

Zelensky made Saakashvili a Ukrainian citizen in the year 2019. He took to Twitter and accused Tbilisi of increasingly cooperating with Moscow.

"Right now, Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. We have repeatedly called on the official Tbilisi to stop this abuse and agree on Saakashvili's return to Ukraine. Our partners, in coordination with Ukraine, have also offered various rescue options," Zelensky said on Twitter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-detains-a-man-it-says-ukraine-sent-to-assassinate-crimeas-head-611416">Also read: Russia detains a man it says Ukraine sent to assassinate Crimea's head</a>

"Today, I instructed the ministry of foreign affairs to summon the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine, to express our strong protest and to ask him to leave Ukraine within 48 hours to hold consultations with his capital," the tweet read.

He then called on the Georgian authorities to hand over Saakashvili to Ukraine for his necessary treatment.

"Once again, I call on the Georgian authorities to hand over Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili to Ukraine for the necessary treatment and care. And I urge our partners to address this situation and not ignore it and save this man. No government in Europe has the right to execute people, life is a basic European value," he further wrote.

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Right now, Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. 
 
We have repeatedly called on the official Tbilisi to stop this abuse and agree on Saakashvili's return to Ukraine. Our partners, in coordination with Ukraine, have also… <a href="https://t.co/Gzvl4zJPR1">pic.twitter.com/Gzvl4zJPR1</a>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1675909140193894401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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During a court hearing, that was aired on television on Monday, Saakashvili lifted his shirt and showed his ribs sticking out from his chest, a hollow abdomen and skin sticking tightly to his bones.&nbsp;

<h2>Health of Georgia’s jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili deteriorating: Doctors</h2>

Earlier, in the month of February, doctors had said that the health of Saakashvili was deteriorating due to drastic weight loss.

The doctor added that he weighed 115 kilogrammes when he was jailed in October 2021, which went down to just 67kg.

Saakashvili went into exile to Ukraine, where he spent most of his life after leaving Georgia. After becoming the governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, he renounced his Georgian citizenship in 2015. In 2018, the former president was convicted by a Georgian court on the charge of corruption and abuse of office. He was sentenced to prison for six years. &nbsp;

However, in October 2021, he was arrested when he landed in Georgia from exile. The pro-Western Saakashvili led the Caucasus country from 2004 to 2013. Many rights groups have said that the arrest of Saakashvili was politically motivated. However, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has repeatedly said that she will not pardon him.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged the Georgian ambassador to Kyiv to return home and make efforts to save Georgia's jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili after a footage surfaced, showing him looking lean and skinny.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged the Georgian ambassador to Kyiv to return home and make efforts to save Georgia's jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili after a footage surfaced, showing him looking lean and skinny. Saakashvili, who was the leader of Georgia from 2004 to 2013, was imprisoned in the year 2021 after coming back from banishment on abuse of power charges that rights groups condemn as politically motivated. Zelensky made Saakashvili a Ukrainian citizen in the year 2019. He took to Twitter and accused Tbilisi of increasingly cooperating with Moscow. "Right now, Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. We have repeatedly called on the official Tbilisi to stop this abuse and agree on Saakashvili's return to Ukraine. Our partners, in coordination with Ukraine, have also offered various rescue options," Zelensky said on Twitter. Also read: Russia detains a man it says Ukraine sent to assassinate Crimea's head "Today, I instructed the ministry of foreign affairs to summon the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine, to express our strong protest and to ask him to leave Ukraine within 48 hours to hold consultations with his capital," the tweet read. He then called on the Georgian authorities to hand over Saakashvili to Ukraine for his necessary treatment. "Once again, I call on the Georgian authorities to hand over Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili to Ukraine for the necessary treatment and care. And I urge our partners to address this situation and not ignore it and save this man. No government in Europe has the right to execute people, life is a basic European value," he further wrote. Right now, Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mykhailo Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. We have repeatedly called on the official Tbilisi to stop this abuse and agree on Saakashvili's return to Ukraine. Our partners, in coordination with Ukraine, have also… pic.twitter.com/Gzvl4zJPR1 — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 3, 2023 × During a court hearing, that was aired on television on Monday, Saakashvili lifted his shirt and showed his ribs sticking out from his chest, a hollow abdomen and skin sticking tightly to his bones. Health of Georgia’s jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili deteriorating: Doctors Earlier, in the month of February, doctors had said that the health of Saakashvili was deteriorating due to drastic weight loss. The doctor added that he weighed 115 kilogrammes when he was jailed in October 2021, which went down to just 67kg. Saakashvili went into exile to Ukraine, where he spent most of his life after leaving Georgia. After becoming the governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, he renounced his Georgian citizenship in 2015. In 2018, the former president was convicted by a Georgian court on the charge of corruption and abuse of office. He was sentenced to prison for six years. However, in October 2021, he was arrested when he landed in Georgia from exile. The pro-Western Saakashvili led the Caucasus country from 2004 to 2013. Many rights groups have said that the arrest of Saakashvili was politically motivated. However, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has repeatedly said that she will not pardon him. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks Georgian ambassador to Kyiv to 'save' Mikheil Saakashvili

Due to drastic weight loss, the health of Georgia's jailed Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has been deteriorating, his doctor said Wednesday.&nbsp;Addressing a presser on Wednesday, the opposition politician's doctor, Tamar Davarashvili, said, the health condition of the former leader is such that he may land in an intensive care unit.&nbsp;"The patient's condition is becoming serious," she said. "His weight and body mass are extremely low," she said, adding that the "next stage could be an intensive care unit."

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In what is seemingly grave news for Saakashvili's supporters, the doctor added that he weighed 115 kilogrammes when he was jailed in October 2021 and now he weighs just 67 kilogrammes. Over 570 members of the European Parliament last week passed a resolution where they voiced their opposition to Saakashvili's arrest. The resolution demanded the Georgian government release the former leader and set him free so that he could receive medical treatment abroad.

"The way former President Mikheil Saakashvili is being treated is a litmus test of the Georgian government's commitment to European values," the resolution read. There are growing calls from the international community over Saakashvili's release. In the latest, a group of US-based doctors said that he is suffering from serious neurological, gastrointestinal, and orthopaedic conditions which was a result of "torture" in custody.

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Saakashvili went into exile to Ukraine, where he spent most of his life after leaving Georgia. After becoming the governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, he renounced his Georgian citizenship in 2015.&nbsp;In 2018, the former president was convicted by a Georgian court on the charge of corruption and abuse of office. He was sentenced to prison for six years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, in October 2021, he was arrested when he landed in Georgia from exile. The pro-Western Saakashvili led the Caucasus country from 2004 to 2013.&nbsp;Many rights groups have said that the arrest of Saakashvili was politically motivated. However, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has repeatedly said that she will not pardon him.&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wagner-group-head-accuses-russian-command-of-treason-564716">Wagner group head accuses Russian command of treason</a>

Saakashvili has been requesting voters to throw their weight behind the United National Movement (UNM), the country's main opposition party against the ruling Georgian Dream party.&nbsp;

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Due to drastic weight loss, the health of Georgia's jailed Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has been deteriorating, his doctor said Wednesday. Addressing a presser on Wednesday, the opposition politician's doctor, Tamar Davarashvili, said, the health condition of the former leader is such that he may land in an intensive care unit.

Due to drastic weight loss, the health of Georgia's jailed Former President Mikheil Saakashvili has been deteriorating, his doctor said Wednesday. Addressing a presser on Wednesday, the opposition politician's doctor, Tamar Davarashvili, said, the health condition of the former leader is such that he may land in an intensive care unit. "The patient's condition is becoming serious," she said. "His weight and body mass are extremely low," she said, adding that the "next stage could be an intensive care unit." Also Read | World's largest four-day work-week trial in Britain proves to be a success, here's how In what is seemingly grave news for Saakashvili's supporters, the doctor added that he weighed 115 kilogrammes when he was jailed in October 2021 and now he weighs just 67 kilogrammes. Over 570 members of the European Parliament last week passed a resolution where they voiced their opposition to Saakashvili's arrest. The resolution demanded the Georgian government release the former leader and set him free so that he could receive medical treatment abroad. "The way former President Mikheil Saakashvili is being treated is a litmus test of the Georgian government's commitment to European values," the resolution read. There are growing calls from the international community over Saakashvili's release. In the latest, a group of US-based doctors said that he is suffering from serious neurological, gastrointestinal, and orthopaedic conditions which was a result of "torture" in custody. Also Read | Toyota accedes to unions' demands, set to provide biggest wage hike in two decades Saakashvili went into exile to Ukraine, where he spent most of his life after leaving Georgia. After becoming the governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, he renounced his Georgian citizenship in 2015. In 2018, the former president was convicted by a Georgian court on the charge of corruption and abuse of office. He was sentenced to prison for six years. However, in October 2021, he was arrested when he landed in Georgia from exile. The pro-Western Saakashvili led the Caucasus country from 2004 to 2013. Many rights groups have said that the arrest of Saakashvili was politically motivated. However, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has repeatedly said that she will not pardon him. Watch | Wagner group head accuses Russian command of treason Saakashvili has been requesting voters to throw their weight behind the United National Movement (UNM), the country's main opposition party against the ruling Georgian Dream party. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Health of Georgia’s jailed Former President Mikheil Saakashvili deteriorating, says doctors

Around 25,000 Georgians on Sunday protested against the election of a ruling party-backed candidate to the presidency, claiming fraud, in a move that threatens to complicate the transition of power in the Western-backed nation.

Holding Georgian and EU flags, protesters packed Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament building in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi.&nbsp;

"I am here to protest against election fraud," Liana Partsvania, 63, told AFP. She accused billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, seen by many as the country's de facto ruler, of stealing "our votes".

On Wednesday, former French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili was elected the ex-Soviet nation's first woman president, beating a candidate supported by flamboyant ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Zurabishvili has said her election was a step forward for women and a move closer to Europe.

But opposition leaders including Zurabishvili's rival Grigol Vashadze have refused to accept the result and called for snap parliamentary elections.

The new head of state will be a largely ceremonial figure, but the vote was seen as a trial run for the contest between Ivanishvili's ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition in more important parliamentary polls set for 2020.

Fresh street protesters could spark concern for the country, which has seen civil wars, mass demonstrations and unrest since gaining its independence in 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union.

"People took to the streets today because the elections were rigged," said protester Gia Mgeladze, 20. "I defend people's right to change power through fair elections."

The vote was also seen as a test of Georgia's democratic credentials as it seeks<a href="http://www.wionews.com/europe/27-european-union-leaders-approve-brexit-deal-with-britain-eu-council-president-donald-tusk-179318"> European Union</a> and<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-asks-nato-to-send-ships-to-back-it-in-conflict-with-russia-180117"> NATO </a>membership.

Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the election was competitive but they also raised concerns about misuse of administrative resources that "blurred the line between party and state".

In the first round, held in October, former French ambassador Zurabishvili failed to take the 50-per cent-plus-one-vote needed to win outright.&nbsp;

But she gained more than 59 per cent of the second-round vote, while Vashadze topped 40 per cent.

&nbsp;

Around 25,000 Georgians on Sunday protested against the election of a ruling party-backed candidate to the presidency, claiming fraud, in a move that threatens to complicate the transition of power in the Western-backed nation.

Around 25,000 Georgians on Sunday protested against the election of a ruling party-backed candidate to the presidency, claiming fraud, in a move that threatens to complicate the transition of power in the Western-backed nation. Holding Georgian and EU flags, protesters packed Rustaveli Avenue in front of the parliament building in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. "I am here to protest against election fraud," Liana Partsvania, 63, told AFP. She accused billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, seen by many as the country's de facto ruler, of stealing "our votes". On Wednesday, former French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili was elected the ex-Soviet nation's first woman president, beating a candidate supported by flamboyant ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. Zurabishvili has said her election was a step forward for women and a move closer to Europe. But opposition leaders including Zurabishvili's rival Grigol Vashadze have refused to accept the result and called for snap parliamentary elections. The new head of state will be a largely ceremonial figure, but the vote was seen as a trial run for the contest between Ivanishvili's ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition in more important parliamentary polls set for 2020. Fresh street protesters could spark concern for the country, which has seen civil wars, mass demonstrations and unrest since gaining its independence in 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union. "People took to the streets today because the elections were rigged," said protester Gia Mgeladze, 20. "I defend people's right to change power through fair elections." The vote was also seen as a test of Georgia's democratic credentials as it seeks European Union and NATO membership. Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the election was competitive but they also raised concerns about misuse of administrative resources that "blurred the line between party and state". In the first round, held in October, former French ambassador Zurabishvili failed to take the 50-per cent-plus-one-vote needed to win outright. But she gained more than 59 per cent of the second-round vote, while Vashadze topped 40 per cent.

Thousands hit streets of Georgia to protest against Presidential election result

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has gone on hunger strike to protest his arrest in Ukraine on charges of trying to stage a coup sponsored by Russia, his lawyer and supporters said Saturday.

Kiev police rearrested the foe of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday after an attempt to detain him earlier in the week dramatically failed when supporters swarmed the van in which he was being held.

&quot;Saakashvili has announced an indefinite hunger strike,&quot; journalist and close ally Vladimir Fedorin wrote on Facebook, in comments echoed by the former leader&#39;s lawyer Ruslan Chornolutskyi to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The 49-year-old denounced the &quot;false accusations&quot; against him, Chornolutskyi added.

Around 100 supporters of Saakashvili, the man who pulled Georgia out of Russia&#39;s orbit in a 2003 revolution before becoming a governor in Ukraine, gathered outside a security service detention centre shouting &quot;shame&quot; on Friday following his arrest.

A court hearing on the case is expected be held in Kiev on Monday.&nbsp;

Prosecutors would ask for Saakashvili to be held under pretrial house arrest, prosecutor General spokeswoman Larysa Sargan said.&nbsp;

Since Saakashvili escaped detention on Tuesday he has continued leading protests outside parliament demanding Poroshenko&#39;s impeachment over his failure to fight high-level corruption.

Saakashvili denies committing any crimes and says his actions have been peaceful and legal.

Tuesday&#39;s drama marked the latest chapter in the dizzying career of a man who spearheaded a pro-Western &quot;Rose Revolution&quot; in Georgia in 2003 and fought a disastrous war with Russia five years later that eventually prompted him to flee the Caucasus country.

Saakashvili returned to the spotlight as a vocal champion of the three-month street uprising in Kiev that toppled a Moscow-backed government in 2014 and turned Ukraine on a pro-EU course.

Poroshenko rewarded Saakashvili for his efforts by appointing him governor of the important Black Sea region of Odessa in 2015.

But an ugly falling out between the two men saw Saakashvili stripped of his Ukrainian passport -- only for him to defy the authorities and force his way back into the conflict-riven country with the help of supporters in September.

Kiev police rearrested Mikheil Saakashvili on Friday

Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has gone on hunger strike to protest his arrest in Ukraine on charges of trying to stage a coup sponsored by Russia, his lawyer and supporters said Saturday. Kiev police rearrested the foe of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday after an attempt to detain him earlier in the week dramatically failed when supporters swarmed the van in which he was being held. "Saakashvili has announced an indefinite hunger strike," journalist and close ally Vladimir Fedorin wrote on Facebook, in comments echoed by the former leader's lawyer Ruslan Chornolutskyi to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. The 49-year-old denounced the "false accusations" against him, Chornolutskyi added. Around 100 supporters of Saakashvili, the man who pulled Georgia out of Russia's orbit in a 2003 revolution before becoming a governor in Ukraine, gathered outside a security service detention centre shouting "shame" on Friday following his arrest. A court hearing on the case is expected be held in Kiev on Monday. Prosecutors would ask for Saakashvili to be held under pretrial house arrest, prosecutor General spokeswoman Larysa Sargan said. Since Saakashvili escaped detention on Tuesday he has continued leading protests outside parliament demanding Poroshenko's impeachment over his failure to fight high-level corruption. Saakashvili denies committing any crimes and says his actions have been peaceful and legal. Tuesday's drama marked the latest chapter in the dizzying career of a man who spearheaded a pro-Western "Rose Revolution" in Georgia in 2003 and fought a disastrous war with Russia five years later that eventually prompted him to flee the Caucasus country. Saakashvili returned to the spotlight as a vocal champion of the three-month street uprising in Kiev that toppled a Moscow-backed government in 2014 and turned Ukraine on a pro-EU course. Poroshenko rewarded Saakashvili for his efforts by appointing him governor of the important Black Sea region of Odessa in 2015. But an ugly falling out between the two men saw Saakashvili stripped of his Ukrainian passport -- only for him to defy the authorities and force his way back into the conflict-riven country with the help of supporters in September.

Ex-Georgian president Saakashvili on hunger strike after Ukraine arrest