Parliament speaker visits opposition leader who is on hunger strike in state legislature

Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has visited Droa opposition party leader, Elene Khoshtaria earlier today, who went on hunger strike late on November 3 in the building of the state legislature, demanding the transfer of former president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvil, to a civil clinic for treatment.

“I was interested in how she feels. We have a doctor in the parliament building who is able to provide medical care if Khoshtaria needs and wants this. I will also be in contact,” Kuchava said.

Saakashvili has been on hunger strike since his arrest in Tbilisi on October 1, and is now demanding his transportation to a civil clinic, while the government offers him a treatment in a prison hospital. 

The ruling party officials believe that Saakashvili has plans to cause unrest if he is transported to a civil clinic. 

Khoshtaria was nominated as a joint candidate for the head of Tbilisi City Assembly by Saakashvili’s United National Movement, European Georgia, Girchi-More Freedom and Droa opposition parties in recent municipal elections. 

However, the UNM mayoral candidate in Tbilisi, Nika Melia, lost the race. She quit the European Georgia opposition party back in December 2020 and created a new political movement which later was transformed into the Droa party.