The persistence of political prisoners, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Mikheil Saakashvili, underscores ongoing challenges to democracy and human rights in Europe.
In its Resolution 2463 (2022) “Further escalation in the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine”, the Parliamentary Assembly called “for a review of cases of other political prisoners opposed to President Putin, in the Russian Federation and in other countries, and for their release (including Mikheil Saakashvili, who is a Ukrainian citizen and former President of Georgia).”
On 18 January 2024, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) published the report on its March 2023 ad hoc visit to Georgia, highlighting that the situation within VivaMedi Clinic, where Mihkeil Saakashvili (referred to as Mr C in the report) receives inpatient treatment, “is oppressive, degrading, and not conducive to improving his health condition.”
Mr Goncharenko
To ask the Committee of Ministers:
How does the Committee of Ministers contribute to efforts aimed at securing the release of political prisoners in Europe?