Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).
Members of the European Parliament recalled that they are monitoring how the former President of Georgia is undergoing treatment. This is stated in a letter published on social networks by European Parliamentarian Petras Austrevicius.
“You can be sure that in the European Parliament we are always aware of your condition and are doing everything to improve it. Congratulations to you and the Georgian people on receiving EU candidate status. This is an important step towards Georgia’s European future, and it would not be possible without your hard work, especially in terms of European reforms,” the letter says.
In addition, the Office of the Public Defender of Georgia has extended cooperation with a group of doctors monitoring the health of the ex-head of state.
On October 1, 2021, Mikheil Saakashvili arrived from Ukraine (of which he is a citizen) to Georgia. He was arrested in Tbilisi based on sentences passed in absentia in two criminal cases. After this, Saakashvili went on a hunger strike, which lasted 50 days. According to Georgian law, the ex-president must spend six years in prison.