Tbilisi hunger-strikers claim authorities' indifference to their demands

The women who are on their hunger strike for the tenth day in front of the Georgian parliament have to periodically call ambulances due to deterioration in their health. An action demanding a large-scale amnesty was also held near the office of the ruling party, but no one came out to the protesters.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 8, family members of the prisoners went on a hunger strike demanding a large-scale amnesty before the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 31. On September 12, the number of hunger-strikers reached 15, and on September 14 – 18 persons.

A total of 18 women are on their hunger strike for the tenth day already, but the authorities neglect their protest, the women told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. In particular, according to their story, in the afternoon on September 17, a protest action was also held in front of the central office of the ruling "Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement" Party, but no one came out to activists.

From time to time, someone of the hunger-strikers feels bad, and when the protesters cannot cope on their own, they have to call an ambulance, said Manana Sikharulidze, a hunger-striker. According to her story, yesterday, an ambulance was called for Maya Chechvadze, as her blood tension dropped; she could not breathe, but she refused hospitalization.

"We'll not leave the place; we'll stay here to the end: either amnesty or we all die here," Manana Sikharulidze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 17, 2020 at 09:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.