Georgia: lawyers to continue hunger strike till May 21

The hunger strike of Georgian lawyers near the parliament's building in Tbilisi continues.

Lawyer Shalva Khachapuridze, the initiator and organizer of the action, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that yesterday, on May 17, the police twice tried to stop the action.

"Initially, they took away our mattresses and equipment; then, the police 'visited' us at two o'clock in the morning. But we'll not stop our hunger strike until May 21. Now, 25 lawyers take part in the action. At night, we had to sleep on the steps, but we aren't going to disperse," said the organizer.

"On May 19, our several colleagues from the regions will join the hunger strike; and on May 20, 25 lawyers will come from Imereti," said Shalva Khachapuridze.

The main demands of hunger-strikers are restoration of justice in the country and setting up the proper conditions for free exercising of their professional duties.

Today, the protesters plan to lodge a petition the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili.

Mr Khachapuridze also said that on May 19 the lawyers plan to meet the Ambassador of France to Georgia Eric Fournier and inform him about the aim of their protest.

They also plan to send an appeal to the US Embassy and meet the US Ambassador to Georgia John Bass.

Currently, the lawyers are at the walls of the Parliament trying to accommodate for the night without mattresses and tents - just on the bare pavement and steps. Their diet includes mineral water only.