Georgian singer Burchuladze goes on hunger strike in support of Saakashvili

Paata Burchuladze, an opera singer, has gone on a hunger strike demanding to transfer Mikhail Saakashvili, a former Georgian president, to a civilian clinic.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 1, Saakashvili went on a hunger strike in the Rustavi Prison, demanding his release. On November 13, Saakashvili's doctor said that on the 44th day of his hunger strike, the politician was so weak that he could not get out of bed.

"I want to express my moderate protest and start a hunger strike. I don't want to be complicit in the death of my president. If we lose Saakashvili, we'll lose Georgia and the bright past that we had," the TASS quotes Paata Burchuladze as saying.

Let us remind you that on November 3, Elene Khoshtariya, the leader of the oppositional "Droa" Party, also went on a hunger strike in support of Saakashvili. On November 15, doctors expressed concern that her kidneys would fail. Ms Khoshtariya refused to end her hunger strike.

On November 14, nine MPs from the oppositional "United National Movement" (UNM) Party went on a hunger strike demanding to transfer Saakashvili to a civilian clinic. Giya Baramidze, a UNM member, has also gone on a hunger strike.