New protesters join hunger strike in Tbilisi

Two out of five hunger strikers at the building of Georgian Parliament were hospitalized; instead, the lawyer, Beka Basilaya, and the doctor, Vakhtang Sikharulidze, have joined the protest action with a demand of resignation of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 23, five young people set up tents in Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, and announced a hunger strike. On June 27, they declared that they would continue the action until the fulfilment of the last protesters' demand – resignation of the head of the MIA.

On June 26, two hunger strikers, Gvantse Arevadze and Tako Metreveli, lost consciousness and were taken to hospital by ambulance, another protester, Giga Lemondjava, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to his story, Gvantse Arevadze was discharged from the hospital on June 27, she is at home. Tako Metreveli is still in hospital. Both girls intend to return to the square in front of the parliament on June 28 and resume their hunger strike, Mr Lemondjava has stated.

Instead of Metreveli and Arevadze, the advocate, Beka Basilaya, and the doctor, Vakhtang Sikharulidze, from Kutaisi have joined the hunger strike, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 27, 2019 at 07:58 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.