საინფორმაციო სააგენტო ინტერპრესნიუსი

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.

Today, June 29, a protest rally titled "Stand Up Georgia!" will be held on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.

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It is human empathy to speak with politicians who are on hunger strike - the environment being promoted is: "if you are not with us, you are our enemy"; this mentality turns "joining the EU by 2030" into an illusion, - wrote the German Ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, on his X page.

The Council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party has adopted a resolution on Georgia entitled “Democracy under siege: a call to defend Georgia’s European path”.

The amendments adopted by the Parliament have come into force. From today, the law will protect the victim of defamation, not the defamer, - the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, writes on social networks regarding the enactment of the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression.

German Ambassador Peter Fischer has visited five people who are on hunger strike near the Georgian Parliament.

The Ivanishvili regime has already imprisoned most of the opposition leaders. Decisions are needed immediately, MEP Rasa Jukneviciene writes on her X page.

We see the sacrifice of many young prisoners, politicians who are in prison, and it is with this approach of sacrifice that we will tear down this wall called the Russian occupation regime, - one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change Elene Khoshtaria told Interpressnews at the parliament, where she has been on a hunger strike for the second day.

Two leaders of our party are in prison. Despite this, not a single step back! We continue to fight and resist, - Irakli Kupradze, Secretary General of Lelo - Strong Georgia, stated at a press conference.

=Gedevan Popkhadze, a member of the Coalition for Change, is starting a hunger strike in front of the parliament.

Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the "Coalition for Change," is starting a hunger strike in front of the Parliament. She announced this on Rustaveli Avenue.

Khoshtaria also stated, "Revolution and overthrowing them in the streets is the only way."

"I decided to come to Rustaveli because this is the place where the main battle for our country is being fought, and this battle is against Russia. We have gone through many stages in this fight. We went through a stage where we were proud that 300,000 people stood together outside, strong and united. We went through a stage where politicians were being arrested. We went through a stage where our political prisoners’ mothers and fathers passed away while they remained in prison. We have gone through difficult and proud stages. Now, as the regime has launched a new offensive and practically all politicians have been arrested, I want to announce a new form of my fight. This form is neither emotional nor thoughtless; it is a fight oriented toward victory. I am starting a hunger strike on Rustaveli, and I will not move from here. This hunger strike is not a desperate or self-sacrificial step; it is a very firm decision. If you cannot see the value of life, if you cannot see the value of freedom, if the death of Giorgi Akhobadze’s mother or Onise Tskhadadze’s father means nothing to you, here is my life and my freedom as well, and you still cannot defeat us – this is my message to 'Georgian Dream.'

My second message is to the people: revolution and overthrowing them in the streets is the only way. I cannot teach anyone what to do or when to take to the streets. I cannot call on anyone to go on a hunger strike, go to prison, or decide when to come out. I can only say through my own example that I am ready to sacrifice myself against this regime, and I will!" Elene Khoshtaria declared.

Elene Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the "Coalition for Change," is starting a hunger strike in front of the Parliament. She announced this on Rustaveli Avenue.

Khoshtaria also stated, "Revolution and overthrowing them in the streets is the only way."

"The actions of 'Georgian Dream' violate the fundamental principles on which the European Union’s relationship with Georgia is built. Politically persecuted activists must be released, and those involved must face sanctions," stated the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a released statement.

"We demand the immediate release of all victims of politically motivated persecution in Georgia," stated Edite Estrela (Portugal) and Sabine Čudić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Georgia, in a statement.

"With every detained activist and silenced voice, Georgia increasingly resembles Belarus," said European Parliament member Rihards Kols in response to the detention of Givi Targamadze. According to him, words alone will not stop the repressions.

Denmark strongly condemns the arrest of numerous opposition leaders by “Georgian Dream” and the extended pretrial detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli. We support targeted sanctions, – said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.