UNM head announces hunger strike demanding Saakashvili's release

Opposition United National Movement (UNM) Head Nika Melia has announced a mass hunger strike demanding imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's release during the UNM rally held in Tbilisi.

Melia said that the hunger strikes will continue until Saakashvili's release. He added that people will start hunger strikes on Kakheti Highway, where the UNM central office is located, Agenda.ge reported.

"We do not have any other right except to attack, except to coerce, in order to make the regime step back... For this reason, I am now going to Kakheti Highway with my friends. I know that many of you will come there until Mikheil Saakashvili is released from captivity. This act of hunger will be termless," Melia told his supporters.

Saakashvili was arrested on October 1 after his clandestine return from eight years in political exile.