The head of state accused the Georgian government of undermining the country's reputation.

Ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili will not be able to go free, even if he receives a pardon since he is a defendant in several criminal cases at once. This was stated by the current President of the country Salome Zourabichvili. This is reported by "Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus)".

In Zourabichvili's opinion, by refusing to let Saakashvili go for treatment, the court sentenced the entire Georgian people to "walk in a vicious circle and remain a hostage of this situation."

At the same time, she noted that a presidential pardon cannot become a legal basis for release from prison in the case of Saakashvili. The problem is that he is accused in three more cases.

Salome Zourabichvili lamented that the current Georgian government has practically deprived Georgia of the prospects for European integration.

"The country's reputation has been destroyed, its credibility has been destroyed, our place in the new geopolitical context has turned out to be uncertain. Which in itself can be dangerous if Russia considers that we have lost the clear support of our traditional partners," the President of Georgia said.

"Everyone should stop speculating and playing with the future of this country, take responsibility and stop spoiling its image. This issue must be removed from the political agenda of Georgia, and this country should be given the opportunity to breathe, live, develop, and receive the status of an honorary candidate for the European Union!" Zourabichvili noted.

• The Ukrainian authorities appealed to Georgia and the world community to transfer Saakashvili for medical treatment abroad. However, the Georgian court refused to release the prisoner.