The agency reported it decided to publish the video depicting how the ex-president physically assaulted the staff and damaged medical equipment due to high public interest.

"Due to the high public interest, we are publishing video footage showing the arrival of Mikheil Saakashvili, a prisoner in the medical facility №18 for accused and convicts, his placement in the ward, and the fact of physical abuse and damage to medical equipment and staff by Saakashvili. The Ministry of Justice has already followed the relevant legal response. The General Inspection of the Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into the incident," the Penitentiary Service’s statement reads.