In Georgia, war veterans went on hunger strike

Veterans of the wars for the territorial integrity of their country are on the hunger strike for the third day already. They demand improvement of their social conditions.

The action of the participants of the armed conflicts of 1992-1993 (Georgian-Abkhazian conflict) and 2008 (five-day war in South Ossetia) was started on Monday, December 27. About 20 veterans accuse the authorities of Georgia of disregard of their problems.

"The government has abolished all the benefits for veterans; therefore we decided to hold a street action. Nothing was left for us; our needs have driven us out," the "News-Georgia" quotes Zaza Chaduneli, one of the protesters.

Today, the opposition Georgian Party has expressed its solidarity with the veterans. The venue of the protest action, at the memorial to soldiers who perished for integrity of Georgia, was also visited by the leaders of the movement "Solidarity with Illegal Prisoners". The hunger-strikers' demands were supported by the Party "Our Georgia-Free Democrats".

The veterans are going to meet the New Year while continuing their hunger strike and plan to last it till January 7, 2011, the "GHN" reports.