Georgian opera star Burchuladze on hunger strike due to Saakashvili

Well-known Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze has gone on hunger strike to attract international attention and demand the transfer of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili to a civilian clinic. 

Saakashvili has been on hunger strike for 48 days, claiming he is a political prisoner. 

The former president aims to remove, as he says, the ‘pro-Russian Georgian Dream government’ from power. 

Burchuladze is on hunger strike in Saakashvili’s presidential library in Tbilisi. 

In his previous statements Burchuladze asked the Georgian Dream government to allow him to replace Saakashvili in prison. 

Burchuladze entered Georgian politics back in 2016 and even participated in the 2016 parliamentary elections.  However, he left politics shortly after the failure in the race.

The government officials say that Saakashvili and his supporters have plans to cause unrest if the former president is brought to a civilian clinic. 

They also say that all conditions are ensured for Saakashvili in Gldani Prison No.18 hospital to receive proper treatment while on hunger strike and in the post -hunger -strike period.

Droa opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria has been on hunger strike since November 3 with the same demand, as well as nine opposition MPs and one opposition member Gia Baramidze, head of Association of Clinics Vili Pachkoria, six members of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party in Zugdidi City Assembly and one supporter of Saakashvili (in Zugdidi) and six UNM members in Rustavi City Assembly.