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Jailed Georgian Ex-President Starts, Quickly Ends Hunger Strike

  • Mikheil Saakashvili began protest over court case, lawyer said
  • Saakashvili called off hunger strike after EU parliament vote
Supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili demonstrate for his release in front of the city court in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Dec. 14.

Supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili demonstrate for his release in front of the city court in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Dec. 14.

Photographer: Vano Shlamov/AFP/Getty Images

By
Bloomberg News
Updated on

Jailed Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili declared a hunger strike Wednesday over a failed court hearing. Hours later, his lawyer said it had been called off. 

Saakashvili announced the protest to demand prison officials allow him to participate in the hearing by video link from a clinic in the capital, Tbilisi, where he’s being treated for health problems, his lawyer Shalva Khachapuridze told reporters. Officials blamed technical problems with the connection to the court, which then postponed the hearing to Dec. 22.