Arrested MP’s Family Goes on Hunger Strike

Family members of Bondo Shalikiani, an influential businessman and an MP elected in Tkibuli single-mandate constituency, who was arrested by the police for illegal possession of arms and explosives, are on hunger strike outside the President’s Office in Tbilisi.

The court sentenced Bondo Shalikiani to three-month pre-trial custody on March 7.

The lawyers and family members of detainee claim that the police illegally arrested Shalikiani as he is a parliamentarian, who enjoys MP immunity.

However, the General Prosecutor’s Office says that Shalikiani’s credentials as an MP were not yet confirmed by the Parliament hence he only enjoyed the immunity of the MP candidate that was lifted by the Central Election Commission.

“I want to meet with the country’s leadership. I am sure President [Mikheil Saakashvili] was misinformed regarding the activity of Bondo Shalikiani,” wife of arrested MP, who is on hunger strike, said.

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