Gedevan Popkhadze: They tell us directly that whoever does not suit us, whom we fear and who poses a problem for us, we will put in prison - Bidzina Ivanishvili decided to legalize the right to rule the country for life
One of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Gedevan Popkhadze, has been on a hunger strike in front of the parliament building for the tenth day, along with other activists. As he told InterpressNews, they do not intend to end the hunger strike until the main demands are met, which concern the appointment of new, fair elections and the release of political prisoners.
“Currently, 7 people are on hunger strike here, one is continuing his hunger strike in a penitentiary institution, Dato Chelidze, who was arrested at a rally on October 28. We feel normal. We also underwent a medical examination yesterday, there were some fluctuations, which is natural,” Gedevan Popkhadze said.
In addition, he also assessed the initiation of criminal prosecution by the Prosecutor's Office against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.
According to him, this is the persecution of opponents using Russian methods.
"These are methods of persecuting political opponents in the best traditions of 1937. This is absolutely Russian standard, it has nothing to do with either democracy or human rights. They want to strengthen the general repression that they have started. They directly tell us that we will put everyone who does not suit us, whom we fear and who poses a problem for us, in prison and thus solve the problem. In reality, Bidzina Ivanishvili has decided to legalize the right to rule the country for life. I think that this will not help anything except escalation and isolation of the country," said Gedevan Popkhadze.
The Prosecutor General's Office has initiated criminal prosecution against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the case concerns crimes committed against the state, namely: sabotage, assistance in hostile activities to a foreign country, financing activities directed against the constitutional order of Georgia and the foundations of national security, and calling for the violent change of the constitutional order of Georgia or the overthrow of the state government.
