Opposition leader Khoshtaria on hunger strike: I’ll only accept medical care to prevent death
Droa leader noted that she received an IV infusion yesterday because her health examination showed ‘dangerous’ results. Photo: Elene Khoshtaria's Facebook page
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Leader of the Droa opposition party Elene Khoshtaria, who has been on a hunger strike in the parliament building for eight days demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer to a civil clinic, has said that she will only accept medical care to prevent her own death.
Today marks the 8th day of @Helenkhosh’s hunger-strike - who has the most simple demand: an adequate treatment of Saakashvili in a civic hospital where all conditions can be met. Elene hasn’t been taking anything but water for the past 8 days.@usingeo @EUinGeorgia
— Droa (@MovementDroa) November 10, 2021
Khoshtaria noted that she received an intravenous infusion yesterday because her health examination showed ‘dangerous’ results.
I emphasize, I will receive no infusions that will improve my condition. I will only accept [treatment which will] prevent death or fainting, she said.
Khoshtaria expressed her gratitude to Parliament Chairman Kakha Kuchava who checked up on her while on hunger strike. However, she maintains that if the government wants to ‘defuse’ the political tension, they should transfer Saakashvili to a civil clinic.
Human Rights House Foundation called on the Georgian authorities to ‘immediately’ start dialogue with Khoshtaria regarding her demands.
Ms. Khoshtaria is a political leader with a long background of supporting human rights and acting as a human rights defender... In resorting to such a drastic form of protest, Ms. Khoshtaria is highlighting the very real implications of limiting space for protest and expression: namely, that those seeking to peacefully protest are left with few options other than extreme measures such as hunger strikes, they wrote.
???????? Georgia authorities must act to protect and promote freedoms of expression and assembly and engage substantively with HRDs, including @helenkhosh, exercising these rights.
— Human Rights House Foundation (@HRHFoundation) November 9, 2021
See the call to the Georgian authorities by @HRHFoundation and @HRHTbilisi. ???? https://t.co/InmWTtqkkM pic.twitter.com/0oYlsIk0ew
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze said yesterday that Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM) party conspired to poison Khoshtaria to ‘cause unrest’ in the country. Khoshtaria dismissed Kobakidze’s claims as ‘absurd.’
Khoshtaria’s father, retired politician Gogi Khoshtaria also dismissed Kobakhidze’s allegations, and urged the government to ‘stop playing with fire.’
Gogi Khoshtaria further addressed the US Embassy and Human Rights Watch in an open letter, saying that the current government ‘rudely violates’ Saakashvili’s rights.
Saakashvili was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after a clandestine return from eight years in political exile. He considers himself a ‘political prisoner’ and claims to be on a hunger strike.
The former president, who was serving his sentence in Rustavi Prison No.12, was transferred to Gldani prison hospital on November 8 to ‘prevent deterioration in his health due to increased risks,' the penitentiary service reported.
In a letter released from prison hospital, Saakashvili claimed that the purpose of his transfer was his physical destruction under Russian president Vladimir Putin’s order.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, Irakli Kobakhidze, says that the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has discussed the possibility of poisoning the leader of the Droa opposition party, Elene Khoshtaria, to further strain political tension.
Leader of the Droa opposition party Elene Khoshtaria fainted earlier today in parliament, likely due to the hunger strike she announced six days ago demanding former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer from prison to a private hospital. Paramedics recommended hospitalisation for Khoshtaria, which she rejected.
Droa opposition party leader, Elene Khoshtaria, who has been on hunger strike for six days while demanding the transfer of former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili to a civil clinic, says that she is ‘strongly against’ Saakashvili returning to power.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava visited Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria, who has been on a hunger strike in the parliament building for three days, demanding former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer to a civil clinic rather than a prison hospital. Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after returning from eight years in political exile, considers himself a ‘political prisoner’ and has reportedly been on a hunger strike for 36 days.
The imprisoned former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who claims to be on a hunger strike, has released a letter from Gldani prison hospital, saying that he will stop the hunger strike if he is taken to a multifunctional civil clinic for rehabilitation. Saakashvili said that he decided to call off his hunger strike after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) urged him to do so.
Nine MPs from the parliamentary faction United National Movement - Unified Opposition have gone on hunger strike, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred from the prison hospital where he is currently receiving care to a civil clinic. The MPs who went on hunger strike are: David Kirkitadze, Akaki Minashvili, Temur Janashia, Bachuki Kardava, Nika Machutadze, Giorgi Godabrelidze, Sulkhan Sibashvili, Levan Bejashvili, and Abdula Ismailov.
Rustavi, Zugdidi City Council members from UNM party announce hunger strike in support of Saakashvili
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party MPs Irakli Kobakhidze, Mamuka Mdinaradze, and Shalva Papuashvili have visited opposition Droa party leader Elene Khoshtaria who has been on hunger strike in the parliament building for 15 days, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s transfer from a prison hospital where he is currently receiving care to a civil clinic.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) parliamentary faction head Mamuka Mdinaradze says he is ‘more concerned’ about the health of opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria who is on a hunger strike in support of the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, than the ex-president’s well-being.
Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa opposition party, on Thursday confirmed transfers of funds from Russia to the account of her family member after reports in Georgian media, and said the money involved royalties for her father from a Russian theatre.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday called on Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa opposition party, to disclose information about the money received by her from Russia and transfer the funds to help Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.