Hunger strikers outside the Georgian parliament require medical assistance.

Hunger strikers outside the Georgian parliament said their condition was satisfactory, although they had to seek medical attention.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on November 2, another woman joined the hunger strike being conducted by opposition politicians outside the Georgian parliament, bringing the number of participants to six. On November 4, two more people joined the opposition hunger strike in protest of the persecution of demonstrators, bringing the total number of participants to eight. .

The hunger strike outside the Parliament building continues for ten days. The hunger strikers' demands remain the same: new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners, Pirveli TV reported today.

"Rustaveli must become a permanent, round-the-clock center of protest; that is our goal. Our demands remain unchanged: the release of political prisoners and new, fair elections. The MEGOBARI Act and sanctions will be the support that will ultimately break and end this evil. But until this international support is activated, we must consolidate our resources here on Rustaveli Avenue as much as possible," Gedevan Popkhadze said.

According to one of the hunger strikers, Darejan Tskhvitaria, yesterday the hunger strikers experienced low blood sugar, but their condition stabilized after receiving medical attention.

"We feel fine. Our blood sugar dropped yesterday, but the ambulance responded in time. We are concerned for our homeland and our country that they allowed everything to reach this state and destroyed everything. Our demand remains valid; it remains the same," said Darejan Tskhvitaria.

As a reminder, on November 5, the 343rd day of continuous protests, activists temporarily blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue, after which they continued their protest on the sidewalk. As in previous days, security forces detained several protesters: Ilia University lecturer Rusudan Kobakhidze, philologist Kobakhidze, a mother of nine, and protester Guram Gongadze. Formula TV journalist Liza Tsitsishvili, who was covering the protest on Rustaveli Avenue while performing her professional duties, was also detained, but security forces released her. In mid-October, the Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the law that tightened 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 sentence of up to 60 days. The Criminal Code now provides for up to one year in prison for repeated violations of protest rules and up to two years for subsequent violations.

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

Key points on the persecution of protesters in Georgia

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 violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. More than a thousand people were subjected to administrative prosecution.