Opposition Activists Go on Hunger Strike over Electricity Rate

16 activists from the opposition Labor Party went on a hunger strike in the office of the Georgian Electricity Regulation Commission on May 10 in protest of anticipated increase of electricity tax.

New electricity rates will be set at a session of the Georgian Electricity Regulation Commission on May 11. The price of one kilowatt of electricity in the capital city Tbilisi is expected to increase from the current 12.8 Tetri to 15 Tetri.

Leader of the Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili said on May 10 that if the electricity tariff increases, the Labor Party will continue its hunger strike outside the President’s Administration.

The opposition Conservative Party has also condemned this planned increase of the electricity tax. The party plans to hold a protest rally outside the Electricity Regulation Commission on May 11.

Officials say that an increase of the electricity rate became a necessity after Russia increased the price of gas for Georgia.