Opposition Calls Off Hunger Strike

The nine-party opposition coalition has called off a planned hunger strike after “receiving firm guarantees” that all key opposition demands would be met by the authorities, MP Levan Gachechiladze of the coalition announced on February 22.

“I”ve spent all night on the phone with Nino Burjanadze [the parliamentary chairperson],” Gachechiladze, in the presence of other leaders from the coalition, told supporters outside Parliament. “We have decided to call off the hunger strike. I have received firm guarantees from the authorities, from Nino Burjanadze, that political prisoners will be released; the public TV will have a new director general on February 26 and before March 15 a new chairman of the Central Election Commission will be appointed. And also [firm guarantees have been received] that all constitutional and legislative amendments will be passed that will bring free elections; free elections in turn will bring a new government.”

The announcement signals a softening in the opposition”s initial hard-line stance towards a ruling party February 14 memorandum.

Last week the bloc warned that it would begin a “mass hunger strike” and create a “town of tents” in Tbilisi and other towns if three key demands were not met by February 22: the release of those arrested in connection with the November 7 events (six have already been released and Burjanadze said on February 21 that the rest would be released soon) and the dismissal of Tamar Kintsurashvili, the head of the public TV, and Levan Tarkhnishvili, the chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Gachechiladze’s announcement received little support from those outside Parliament, who had gathered for a pre-planned protest rally. Many complained that the opposition was failing to properly press their demands.

There was also diissent within the bloc’s leadership, with the decision coming only after a late-night meeting on February 21. Even then, Salome Zourabichvili, leader of the Georgia”s Way party, when asked whether the cancellation would stand, replied “let”s see what happens tonight.”

It emerged that the Conservative Party had wanted to continue with protests and the planned hunger strike.

“Although I and some of my friends had a different position, the National Council (of bloc leaders) decided by majority vote,” MP Kakha Kukava of the Conservative Party said. “We will continue our struggle to achieve the release of all political prisoners and for genuinely free and fair parliamentary elections.”

Movement for United Georgia, a party set up by Irakli Okruashvili, a former defense minister, was also against.

“We also had a different position, because no tangible results have been delivered by the authorities so far; so it is impossible to trust their verbal promises. But the Council has decided and we do not disassociate with the Council,” Eka Beselia of the Movement for United Georgia said.

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