The number of hunger strikers outside the Georgian parliament has reached six.

Another participant has joined the hunger strike being conducted by opposition politicians outside the Georgian Parliament, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Gedevan Popkhadze, a member of the "Coalition for Change," Darejan Tskhvitaria, an activist with the "United National Movement," and several others announced a hunger strike on October 28 Rustaveli Avenue. The action is being held outside the Georgian Parliament building, where protesters gather daily.

Gedevan Popkhadze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, who is continuing his hunger strike along with several other activists, notes that another participant has joined the hunger strike, bringing the total number of hunger strikers to six, InterPressNews reported.

According to him, the activists are feeling well and are in good spirits. "So far, the participants are feeling well, and we are in good spirits. Another participant has joined us, and she herself expressed a desire to be with us. For me, this is a very good sign. Overall, I believe that today's hunger strike is an example for those seeking a way to express protest against the current regime and the ongoing injustice. "In this situation, a hunger strike is absolutely appropriate," the agency quoted him as saying.

Key points on the persecution of protesters in Georgia

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all political prisoners since November 28, 2024. They have been holding daily protests on Rustaveli Avenue. Security forces violently dispersed protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. More than a thousand people were subjected to administrative prosecution. On November 1, protesters blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue 339-1 for one day in a row, but were soon forced to lift the blockade, and at least one participant was detained. Security forces reported 29 demonstrators detained over the past five days. One of them, Zurab Menteshashvili, has been charged with repeated blocking of the road.

The "Coalition for Change," announced in August 2024, showed notable results in the parliamentary elections a year ago, taking second place. It received 11.03% of the vote, earning the bloc 19 seats. The ruling party "Georgian Dream" received the largest number of mandates (89). "Unity - National Movement" received 16 mandates, "Strong Georgia" - 14, "For Georgia" - 12. Already on October 27, 2024, the "Coalition for Change" refused its mandates, declaring the elections illegitimate.

All four leaders of the "Coalition for Change" are in prison: in September, the founder of the "Droa" party, Elene Khoshtaria, was arrested for damaging Kakha Kaladze's election banner, and three others (co-chairs of the "Akhali" party, Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia, and the leader of the "Girchi - More Freedom" party, Zurab Japaridze) were previously sentenced to imprisonment for failing to appear when summoned by a temporary investigative commission created "Georgian Dream" to investigate the alleged crimes of the previous government.