U.S. 'closely following' treatment of Georgian hunger-striking ex-president

FILE PHOTO: Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's former president, speaks during an interview with Reuters at his house in the village of Lisnyky outside Kiev, Ukraine May 8, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

(Reuters) - The United States is "closely following" the treatment of Georgia's hunger-striking former President Mikheil Saakashvili since his arrest on Oct. 1, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

"We urge the Government of Georgia to treat Mr. Saakashvili fairly and with dignity," the Department said in a statement. "We also strongly urge the Government of Georgia to ensure Mr. Saakashvili is able to attend all court hearings for his pending criminal cases."