19:08, 17 June 2013

Former Georgian Premier Merabishvili goes on hunger strike in jail

Vano Merabishvili. Photo by Anna Konoplyeva for the "Caucasian Knot"

Vano Merabishvili, the General Secretary of the Party "United National Movement" and the former Prime Minister of Georgia, accused of a number of corruption-related crimes, has begun a hunger strike demanding to put a TV-set into his cell and allow his relatives to make use of his bank accounts, said his advocate Georgi Chiviashvili.

According to the lawyer, his client has gone on a hunger strike in protest against the fact that he has no TV-set in his cell, and he cannot watch what is happening in the country. The advocate has noted that under the law Merabishvili has the full right to have a TV-set, the "Georgia-Online" reports.

Besides, Merabishvili demands from the prison administration to issue a power of attorney to his relatives, empowering them to handle his bank accounts. This demand of the ex-Premier, according to Chiviashvili, was responded neither positively nor negatively, the "News-Georgia" reports.

Let us remind you that the "United National Movement" Party is treating Merabishvili, despite his prosecution, as a potential presidential candidate.