Saakashvili's supporters gather in Tbilisi for mass hunger strike

Several dozen people from Georgian regions have joined the hunger strike, held in Tbilisi by the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party with a demand to release Mikheil (Mikhail) Saakashvili, the third president of Georgia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 21, at a rally in Tbilisi, activists of the oppositional UNM Party announced the start of a mass hunger strike, which they intend to continue until Mikhail Saakashvili is released.

Late in the evening on December 21, the protesters camped in specially set up tents in front of the central office of the party located in Kakheti Highway leading to the exit from the capital. In the morning and afternoon on December 22, several dozen like-minded people from different country regions joined the hunger-strikers, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported.

Four UNM leaders are also taking part in the hunger strike – the chairman, Nika Meliya, Giorgi Botkoveli, Akaki Minashvili and Giorgi Baramidze.

"A total; of up to 300 people decided to take part in the hunger strike, but after the start thereof, some of them went home to settle their personal problems, and some joined the hunger strike during the day," Giorgi Botkoveli, an MP and one of the protesters, has stated on air of the "Mtavari Arkhi" TV Company.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 23, 2021 at 03:39 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.