For the first time since the implementation of our project, there has been a crucial depreciation of Poland’s image in the Georgian media.
On 14 July, the Georgian peculiar Prison Service released a statement, along with a video, detailing the visit of Polish doctors to Georgia’s 3rd President, Mikheil Saakashvili.
According to the statement, during the visit, there was an “inexplicable incident” involving 1 of the Polish doctors. The issue concerns the collection of a example for investigating from the convicted Mikheil Saakashvili; the Polish doctor wrapped it in paper and attempted to remove it illicitly.
At the same time, the agency stated that the service had given them the authoritative right to collect the sample. This makes the doctor’s action even more perplexing, as it “adds further ambiguity to the behaviour of the doctor, who engaged in a practice that does not adhere to ethical and legal standards”.
On November 29, 2022, the Minister of Justice – guided by the advanced level of work with which the state treats the lives and wellness of prisoners – suggested convicting Mikheil Saakashvili, who had disregarded the recommendations of the attending doctors to invitation any abroad doctor from any abroad clinic to affect him in the treatment process.
On March 20, 2023, after nearly 4 months, the convict’s parent approached the service with a message that did not meet the standards established by Georgian law. It was repeatedly explained to the applicant in writing and orally that doctors should be allowed to execute medical activities in Georgia temporarily, and another requirements under the provisions of the law should be followed. Despite this, the public was given erroneous information that Polish doctors were allegedly not allowed to visit the convict.
After 7 months of the Ministry of Justice’s offer, on July 5, 2023, the convict’s lawyer filed an appeal on the reception of Polish doctors to treat the convicted Saakashvili at the Vivamed clinic. On July 12, their designated doctors were given the chance to visit the convict, one more time confirming the agency’s commitment to its promise.
However, a letter submitted on July 3 by the same lawyer indicated that the information provided was confidential. However, later, due to 1 of the tv companies, the public saw the doctors entering the infirmary live on a tv channel, where political programmes were being filmed – thus violating the confidentiality of the matter.
The aforementioned incidental involving a Polish doctor occurred during the visit. The individual was asked to explain this act, for which no logical explanation could be given.
The Polish doctor’s actions were viewed very negatively by the Georgian public. The reaction has been seen on various social networks, forums and in tv interviews. This issue is frequently met with irony, followed by angry comments. Due to the sensitivity of Mikheil Saakashvili’s case, the motive for Poland’s specified active engagement in the erstwhile president’s liberation was unclear to many Georgians. In this case, even the anti-government media and Saakashvili’s active supporters preferred not to comment on the Polish doctor’s actions. As for the pro-government media and affiliated groups, they seized the opportunity, analysed the subject and prepared reports on the matter.
General comments from Facebook users and trolls were as follows:
- “It seems that the Poles wanted to usage the example taken from Mikheil Saakashvili for exorcism purposes”;
- “It’s sad that specified a delicate case was handed over to a group of unprofessional doctors”;
- “It would be better to entrust this substance to the Americans or Germans to avoid specified absurd incidents”;
- “It is much better for Poland to take care of its doctors, who usage shoes as laboratory instruments, than to care about a criminal named Mikheil Saakashvili”;
- “Were these Poles doctors or drug dealers?”.
Pro-Russian media have begun to criticise Poland and spread conspiracy theories about Poland’s history, present and future. They besides tried (along with pro-government media) to represent Poland as an curious organization in Georgian politics that supports Mikheil Saakashvili.
Asaval-Dasavali, Georgia and World, TV Obieqtivi, Alt-Info (all of these media entities openly support Russia) demanded that the government expel the Polish ambassador from the country.
Despite specified incidents, Poland’s position and image in Georgia stay very affirmative and solid, and the incidental cannot harm the strategical partnership between Tbilisi and Warsaw (especially in the perception of the mainstream media and Georgian society). The first criticism disappeared very rapidly as it was replaced by another news. The incidental did not affect the basis of these bilateral relations. The main reason why the pro-government media indirectly criticised Poland was not to destruct these strategical partnerships with Warsaw, but to isolate Saakashvili’s case from Western interest and involvement.
Author: dr Grigol Julukhidze
Public task financed by the Ministry of abroad Affairs of the Republic of Poland within thegrant comp etition “Public Diplomacy 2023”
Fot: Natanael Ginting/Shutterstock.com
