Mariam Jishkariani on psychotropic drug: Mikheil Saakashvili thought this drug was dormitive, his condition improved after removing the drug

According to Mariam Jishkariani, the head of the Empathy Center, Mikheil Saakashvili's condition is both psychologically and neurologically labile, therefore treatment is needed. Mariam Jishkariani made this statement while talking to journalists after visiting Mikheil Saakashvili in Gori Military Hospital.

According to Jishkarian, they got acquainted with the medical card and treatment tactics to find out what tactics are appropriate in order to eliminate "the neurological symptoms that still exist and the symptoms of emotional lability and post-traumatic stress disorder, which are quite severe."

Mariam Jishkariani also spoke about the treatment prescribed for the third president of Georgia in Rustavi 12th facility and noted that why psychotropic medication was prescribed is not clear from the medical card.

"Mikheil Saakashvili knew that he was taking these drugs, but he knew that this drug was dormitive. When we removed the drug on November 27, he felt a change the next day", said the head of Empathy.

Asked by a journalist whether Mikheil Saakashvili had been deceived while taking the drug, Mariam Jishkariani replied: "I can not say, probably the Ministry of Justice will have the answer to this - was this drug used for sleep in general or with any intention? For the neurological symptoms that are currently being identified, the so-called Wernicke's encephalopathy, it is not allowed to take this drug during hunger", Jishkariani said.

According to Mariam Jishkariani, these drugs are prescribed in rather big doses, and this led to what the Ukrainian lawyer was talking about, that Mikheil Saakashvili could not even recognize him, that's how much he had changed.

"After the drug was removed, his condition improved and he was able to participate in court proceedings. Currently, there remains emotional lability associated with the consequences of hunger and untimely transfer to the clinic, hence the damage was done and he has the so-called Wernicke encephalopathy, which is evident. I do not know whose responsibility it is, which guidelines were followed. In general, when it happens in prisons, the inappropriate use of psychotropic drugs is considered as psychopharmacological torture", Jishkariani said.

Asked by a journalist whether Mikheil Saakashvili's health condition allows him to be transferred from Gori Hospital to Rustavi Prison within a week, Jishkariani said that Saakashvili's health condition does not allow it. "Apart from the need for multidisciplinary treatment, we also need the next neurorehabilitation, which I do not know where it is conducted in Georgia", Jishkariani said.