Georgia’s ex-president bequeaths to bury his heart in Ukraine

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who demanded to be transferred to intensive care, has spoken at a hearing in his case.

He reiterated that he needs treatment and also said that if he does not live to see Kyiv win the military conflict with Moscow, he is asking for his heart to be buried in Ukraine, according to Kommersant.

"If I do not live to see Ukraine win, which is very close, my heart must be buried in Kyiv because it belongs to Ukraine," Saakashvili said during his trial on a live broadcast from the Vivamedi clinic, where he has been undergoing treatment for mental and endocrine problems since last May.

He made his statement in Ukrainian while stressing that he had no doubts about Ukraine's victory and was "proud of President Zelenskyy".

Saakashvili, who has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Tbilisi court, said he had been tortured in custody and even tried to be fatally poisoned.

The ex-president said he is ready to sacrifice his life after sacrificing his freedom and health and has only asked for adequate medical treatment.

To demonstrate the grave state of his health, Saakashvili, who lost 60 kg during the year of imprisonment, bared himself to the waist, apologizing to the audience.