The trial delay had allegedly been caused by preparations for ensuring the former President’s online engagement in the hearing. 
To be reminded, the former President on Thursday said he had intended to attend the hearing about his “life and death” and he had been receiving treatment at the Vivamedi civilian clinic in Tbilisi since May, with a judge saying the doctors of the clinic had refused to allow Saakashvili’s presence at the trial. 
The recent health report by Empathy, a Georgian-based rehabilitation center, which had pointed to more than 20 health issues and raised the potential of “coma and death”, was cited by Saakashvili’s lawyers in their appeal to the court on December 1 to either release Saakashvili or postpone the rest of his sentence.
At today's trial, the judge received the public defender's opinion as well as additional documents, which, according to him, will take time to get acquainted with.