Saakashvili ready to call off hunger strike, raises a demand

Georgian former president Mikheil Saakashvili is ready to stop his 42-day hunger strike if the Georgian Dream government transfers him to a private, multi-function clinic, instead of Gldani No.18 prison hospital or Gori hospital in central Georgia. 

Saakashvili’s lawyer Nika Gvaramia said earlier today that the post-hunger-strike period is complicated and none of the prison hospitals are able to provide proper medical care. 

The government transferred Saakashvili to Gldani prison clinic on Monday, on the 39th day of hunger strike. 

However, Saakashvili says it happened against his will. 

The government said that Saakashvili and his United National Movement party planned unrest at a private clinic if Saakashvili was brought there. 

Saakashvili is a citizen of Ukraine and current head of the Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Reforms Council.  

He was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, stating that he returned to remove the Georgian Dream government from power.  

The third president was convicted in Georgia back in 2018 for abuse of power in absentia and was sentenced to six years in prison.  

Saakashvili also faces five charges related to embezzlement, illegal takeover of property and others.