**Hunger Strike in Georgia: Protesters Say Their Main Goal is to Confront the Situation, Not Change Minds**
A hunger strike by several Georgian politicians and activists has sparked a heated debate about their motivations. The protesters, led by Elene Khoshtaria and Gedevan Popkhadze, are demanding that the government takes action against what they see as a “great evil” in the country.
According to Popkhadze, a member of the “Coalition for Change,” the hunger strike is not about trying to change someone’s mind or persuade them to act differently. Rather, it is a sign of protest against the current situation, which he believes is dire. “We must confront it with united strength,” he said.
The protesters are accusing the government of dragging the country toward Russia and establishing a Putinist regime in Georgia. They also point out that there are many political prisoners, and the courts have become a source of horror for many people.
When asked if they would stop their hunger strike if the opposition announced it would refuse to participate in local elections, Popkhadze was firm. He said that a united opposition front is a stronger argument against the regime than empathy toward the protesters.
**Government’s Lack of Empathy**
Popkhadze criticized the government for showing no empathy towards the hunger strikers. “They have no empathy at all,” he said. “If something happened to me and I died, they wouldn’t even issue a death notice.”
He also pointed out that the health committee has refused to communicate with the protesters despite their deteriorating health.
**United Strength is Key**
Popkhadze believes that united strength is the key to confronting the regime. He said that if all political forces came together and said “let’s fight uncompromisingly without cooperation or legitimization,” he would rather stand with them than continue his hunger strike.
The protesters are hoping that their actions will bring attention to the issues they face, and ultimately lead to change.
**Background**
Politicians Elene Khoshtaria and Gedevan Popkhadze began a hunger strike in front of the Georgian parliament as a sign of protest. Their hunger strike was joined by civil activists Vasil Eliava, Giorgi Stepanova, and Bacho Kutsia.
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