The number of hunger strikers outside the Georgian parliament has grown to eight.

Two more people have joined the opposition hunger strike outside the Georgian Parliament in protest of the persecution of demonstrators.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, on November 2, another woman joined the hunger strike held by opposition politicians outside the Georgian Parliament, bringing the number of participants to six.

Today, on the eighth day of the hunger strike, two more people joined the protest, Gedevan Popkhadze told Interpressnews. "It's the eighth day of the hunger strike, and two people have already joined us. Currently, eight people are on hunger strike: seven here, outside parliament, and one in a penitentiary," he said.

The health of the hunger strikers is "satisfactory," the opposition leader noted. "There are no particular problems; we feel hale and hearty. We believe this protest should expand and intensify until the political situation in the country changes," Popkhadze stated.

He acknowledged that hunger strike alone "will not achieve this result." "Because on the other side is a club of corrupt, illegitimate bandits and money-grubbers who are robbing this country. They will not back down from this of their own free will. A protest movement must emerge that will fight, destroy, and undermine them, which will then unite and overthrow the corrupt and illegitimate regime," the agency quotes Popkhadze as saying.

The main thing about the persecution of protesters in Georgia

As a reminder, on November 3, the 341st day of continuous protests, activists briefly blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue, after which they continued their protest on the sidewalk. As in previous days, security forces detained several protesters.

In mid-October, the Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the law that toughened penalties for violations during protests. The authors of the initiative from the Georgian Dream party explained that the law is aimed at those who regularly block Rustaveli Avenue. Now, appearing at a rally wearing a mask or blocking the road is punishable by administrative arrest for up to 15 days. Refusal to end a rally at the request of the police carries a prison term of up to 60 days. The Criminal Code now provides for up to one year in prison for repeat violations of protest rules and up to two years for subsequent violations.

Following the adoption of the amendments, security forces began mass arrests of protesters on Rustaveli Avenue. Most of them are accused of blocking the avenue and obstructing traffic.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. They have been holding daily protests on Rustaveli Avenue. Security forces have violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. More than a thousand people have been subjected to administrative prosecution.