UNM launches ‘large-scale hunger strike’

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party says it is launching a ‘large-scale’ hunger strike with the involvement of ‘as many people as possible’ to allow the release of imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili from prison ‘soon.’ 

 

The UNM head Nika Melia said that tents will be opened at the party office in the outskirts of Tbilisi. 

 

“We will not encourage anyone to get involved in the protest. However, it will be welcomed if many people participate,” Melia said at a rally in central Tbilisi yesterday, on the 54th birthday of Saakashvili. 

 

Saakashvili, the third president of Tbilisi who currently holds Ukrainian citizenship, was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile. 

 

He claims he returned to ‘save the country’ from the current state leadership. 

 

Saakashvili was convicted in absentia in Georgia back in 2018 for abuse of power and was sentenced to six years in prison. 

 

He has also been charged with five other offenses. 

 

Saakashvili is currently undergoing post-hunger-strike treatment in Gori military hospital, where he was transferred after his 50-day hunger strike on November 19.