11/02/2022 19:11

Commissioner: Ukraine officially recognizes Mikheil Saakashvili as a victim in a case of ill-treatment in Georgian prison

Ukraine has officially recognized Mikheil Saakashvili as a victim in a case of ill-treatment in a Georgian prison.

Mikheil Saakashvili, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Reforms of Ukraine, was recognized a victim under Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine during the pre-trial investigation of a citizen of Ukraine. This was announced by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Lyudmyla Denisova.

The Ombudsman reminded that on January 14, 2022, proceedings were instituted on the fact of committing a crime against Mikheil Saakashvili under Part 3 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely abuse of office by Georgian law enforcement officers during the detention of Mikheil Saakashvili.

"Mikheil Saakashvili's recognition of the victim took into account that he was physically and morally harmed by the illegal actions of Georgian law enforcement officers," the Commissioner said.

This procedural status gives grounds for Mikheil Saakashvili to further exercise his rights as a victim at various stages of criminal proceedings in the manner prescribed by Article 56 of the Code.

The case of Mikheil Saakashvili, a citizen of Ukraine, remains under the control of the Ukrainian Parliament's Commissioner for Human Rights.