Opposition ends mass hunger strike at ex-president Saakashvili’s request
The decision to terminate the protest was preceded by the transfer of the former president Saakashvili to Rustavi No. 12 prison on December 30 from Gori Military Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment following his 50-day hunger strike since the day of his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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About 200 protesters demanding former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release from prison have stopped a mass hunger strike announced on December 21, following the former president’s request to do so on January 1.
United National Movement (UNM) head Nika Melia announced a mass hunger strike for Mikheil Saakashvili's release during a UNM rally in central Tbilisi on December 21.
A total of nine tents were set up on Kakheti Highway, close to the central office of the UNM party, in which supporters of the former president protested his imprisonment. Among the protesters were members of the party, including Nika Melia and civil activists.
Melia stated that the decision was made at Saakashvili's request, noting that otherwise he would have been ‘forced to resume’ the hunger strike.
The decision to terminate the protest was preceded by the transfer of the former president to Rustavi No. 12 prison on December 30 from Gori Military Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment following his 50-day hunger strike since the day of his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1.
Saakashvili was originally transferred to Gori Military Hospital on November 19. Saakashvili and his lawyers insisted that he must stay in hospital for further treatment.
The start of [another] hunger strike by Mikheil Saakashvili will be fatal and therefore, together with our comrades, we decided to move to the next stage of the fight, which will be diverse and non-violent, until justice prevails in the country and political justice is completed,” Melia said.
The UNM reports that more than 200 people have been on hunger strike since December 21, though some of the protesters have been hospitalised due to their health.
Saakashvili, who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, is serving a sentence for abuse of power after his clandestine return earlier this year in October from eight years in political exile.
The former president was convicted in absentia on two counts of abuse of power and sentenced to six years in prison. He faces additional charges including illegal seizure of property, embezzlement, illegal rally dispersal, and illegal border crossing.