Georgian Opposition Gives Authorities 24 Hours

The opposition in Georgia has given the authorities 24 hours to transfer former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who declared a hunger strike 37 days ago, to a civilian clinic. This announcement was made by Nika Melia, head of the main opposition "United National Movement," during a protest near the Rustavi prison, as reported by sputnik-georgia.ru.

“We are giving the authorities 24 hours to transfer Mikheil Saakashvili to a city clinic, where his life and health will be protected. If this condition is not met, we will gather at 20:00 in Freedom Square across Georgia,” Melia stated.

He added that the remaining demands and action plan would be published in Tbilisi's Freedom Square.

Saakashvili was arrested in Georgia on October 1. At the same time, Georgian ombudsman Nino Lomjaria announced that he had begun a hunger strike after his arrest because he disagrees with the charges brought against him and considers himself a political prisoner. Saakashvili is involved in several criminal cases in Georgia. The former president has been sentenced in absentia for the murder of banker Sandro Girgvliani and the beating of MP Valeri Gelashvili. In the first case, he was sentenced to three years in prison, and in the second, to six.

Additionally, Saakashvili is implicated in cases of dispersing an opposition rally on November 7, 2007, the destruction of the "Imedi" television station, and the embezzlement of funds from the state budget. These cases are still pending in court.