Rustavi, Zugdidi City Council members from UNM party announce hunger strike in support of Saakashvili
Member of the UNM Ana Tsitlidze said Zugdidi City Council members who have recently announced hunger strikes are Maia Kalandia, Irakli Sordia, Khatuna Shamugia, Dariko Arkania, and Malkhaz Jalaghonia. Photo: Ana Tsitlidze/Facebook.
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Opposition United National Movement (UNM) members from Rustavi and Zugdidi City Councils have announced a hunger strike, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili be transferred from the prison hospital to a civil clinic.
Member of the UNM Ana Tsitlidze said Zugdidi City Council members who have recently announced hunger strikes are Maia Kalandia, Irakli Sordia, Khatuna Shamugia, Dariko Arkania, and Malkhaz Jalaghonia.
Six members of the opposition UNM party from Rustavi City council have also announced a hunger strike in support of Saakashvili.
Members of Rustavi City Council on hunger strike. Photo: David Mchedlidze/RFE/RL.
Rustavi City Council member Juba Mgeladze told RFE/RL that UNM members will continue the hunger strike until Saakashvili is transferred to a civil clinic.
Nine MPs from the parliamentary faction United National Movement – Unified opposition and opera singer Paata Burchuladze announced a hunger strike in support of Saakashvili yesterday.
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.
On the thirteenth day of her hunger strike, Droa opposition party leader Elene Khoshtaria agreed to receive medical assistance as her health condition has worsened and intoxication has started in her body.
Small update on my health:
— Helen Khoshtaria (@Helenkhosh) November 15, 2021
Analysis show that my condition has slightly worsened & intoxication has started in my body. Doctors have said I need to systematically do IV so my kidneys survive.
I’m not planning to stop - transfer Saakashvili to a civic hospital. #SOSGeorgia
Khoshtaria notes she is not gplanning to stop hunger strike.
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 the prison hospital on November 11, saying that he is ready to call off his hunger strike if taken to a multifunctional clinic for rehabilitation.