UNM member Baramidze, opera singer Burchuladze announce hunger strike in support of Saakashvili
Baramidze and Burchuladze demand Saakashvili's transfer to a civil clinic. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Opposition United National Movement (UNM) member Giorgi Baramidze and opera singer Paata Burchuladze have announced a 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.
Baramidze said that he will stay in the UNM office during his hunger strike.
Since I am not an MP, I can't join [the protest] in the parliament building. Therefore, I'll carry out this process in the UNM central office, he said.
Burchuladze said that he will arrive in Georgia tomorrow to start his hunger strike. He also addressed the fellow Georgian artists to join his protest.
Artists, my colleagues, writers, painters, who have the wish and the ability, join me, Burchuladze wrote on his Facebook page.
US-based Georgian doctors Nana Gegechkori and Zurab Guruli who have been actively campaigning to raise awareness on pandemic-related measures in Georgia say that considering Saakashvili's symptoms, the former president's life is under risk.
Gegechkori and Guruli claim that Saakashvili has gastrointestinal and neurological problems that might even require surgery.
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.
Saakashvili released a letter from prison hospital on November 11, saying that he is ready to call off his hunger strike if taken to a multifunctional clinic for rehabilitation.
The head of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) Nika Melia has announced two protest rallies and intent to block roads on both banks of the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi tomorrow. Melia said that the opposition is giving a 'warning sign' to the government.
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.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia has said that the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's health is stable and under constant medical surveillance, refuting speculation on Saakashvili's alleged health deterioration. The penitentiary service asserts that Saakashvili does not need intensive care, but the Gldani prison hospital, where he had been transferred a few days ago, is equipped with 'all necessary modern technique.'
Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze has requested the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party let him ‘replace’ the former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili in prison. Burchuladze said that he ‘does not want to be an accomplice in the third president’s murder,’ and asked the GD to let him ‘replace’ Saakashvili in prison.
The Georgian Interior Ministry says that the plans announced by the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party to block roads on both banks of the River Mtkvari in the afternoon is against the law and that the ministry will use the ‘proportional force and act in accordance with the law’ to prevent the violation.
Rustavi, Zugdidi City Council members from UNM party announce hunger strike in support of Saakashvili
On the third day of his hunger strike, Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze says that losing the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili the public is losing Georgia as well.