Ex-Georgia president in hospital due to hunger strike

The former Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, has been hospitalized after weeks of hunger strike. And the Georgian media reported, yesterday, citing the prison system, that the 53-year-old was transferred from the detention center in the city of Rustavi to the clinic in a helicopter.

Saakashvili, who led the republic on the Black Sea between 2004 and 2013 and later lived in Ukraine, was arrested in early October after returning to his homeland. He was previously wanted under an arrest warrant for abuse of office.

Shortly after his arrest, Saakashvili announced that he was on hunger strike. Hundreds of Georgians have repeatedly demonstrated for the release of the politician who, among other things, implemented pro-Western reforms in the former Soviet republic of 3.7 million people during his tenure. Saakashvili is also the founder of the United National Movement Party, which is now in the opposition.

Last weekend, Georgia’s prison system released a video showing Saakashvili eating porridge and cereal. The former president criticized this and described it as a violation of his personal rights. Then he announced that he would not eat anymore.