The country is heading toward disaster. We should not face this reality merely as spectators. It is in the Georgian character to face tanks with a smile, with a playful song – if we have to end the [hunger strike] protest, it will probably be because a stronger and more significant political process has begun to bring down the regime,” said Gedevan Popkhadze, a member of the “Coalition for Change,” to Interpressnews, while he was on hunger strike in front of Parliament.

As Popkhadze noted, they have no illusions that the regime will suddenly become noble because a few people have declared a hunger strike.

“The protest will continue until we clearly see how society and the regime react to this protest. We are protesting the current reality, but we have no illusion that the regime will get up and suddenly transform because a few people are on hunger strike. Protesting the regime’s actions in this form sets a standard of attitude in the political spectrum and in society toward what is happening. The country is heading toward disaster. We should not face this reality as spectators. It is in the Georgian character to meet tanks boldly, with a song. If the regime is some inevitable given, we must face it with persistent and unyielding resistance. I am sure Georgian society will be united and strong. The opposition spectrum will confront these challenges from the Russian regime today.

As for my health, I feel normal. Elene already has health problems; yesterday she had high blood pressure. I don’t think there’s any reason to stop the protest because of this. If we have to stop, it will probably be because a stronger and more important political process begins to end the regime,” Popkhadze said.

As a reminder, politicians Elene Khoshtaria and Gedevan Popkhadze began a hunger strike in front of the Georgian Parliament as a form of protest. They are showing solidarity with imprisoned opposition politicians. Civil activists Vasil Eliava, Giorgi Stepanova, and Bacho Kutsia have also joined Khoshtaria and Popkhadze in the hunger strike.