Speaking to 10,000 of his fellow protesters of the Georgian Opposition party, Levan Gachechiladze, vowed to engage in a hunger strike, if the governing party does not comply with more of his party’s demands.

The disgruntlement of Gachechiladze’s party with the government arose from the presidential elections on January 5, 2008.  The presidential incumbent, Mikheil Saakashvili, was reelected amidst allegations of possible voting irregularities.  The results indicated that Saakashvili won 53.47% of the vote.  However, the opposition contested whether Saakashvili actually won the majority vote, but instead believed that Saakashvili should have only won a plurality.  Because if Saakashvili had only won a plurality, then he would have had a runoff election with the second place contestant, which was Levan Gachechiladze.

Thus, the opposition has fiercely contested the results and promised their supporters that they will not stop their movement until the government complies with many of their 17 demands.  Initially, the opposition reported that the government would comply with 15 of the 17 demands.

However, the official response from the governing party has shocked the opposition. “‘Even those who are less radical within the opposition [coalition] were shocked by this response,’ Kakha Kukava, Conservative Party MP, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB). ‘This response means that we have received a No to 16 of our 17 demands and on one demand – concerning how majoritarian MPs are elected – there is only a tentative readiness from them to compromise. This document is cynical.’” (Civil Georgia- ‘We are Shocked by Ruling Party Response’ – Opposition Leader)

The opposition stated that they may begin a hunger strike and turn would Georgia into a place of tents.

For more information, please see:

AFP- 10,000 protest against Georgia government- 15 February 2008

Civil Georgia- Opposition Sets Ultimatum, Warns of ‘Town of Tents’- 15 February 2008

Civil Georgia- Chart: Opposition Demands/Ruling Party’s Response- 16 February 2008

Civil Georgia- New Rights Call for Opposition Unity to ‘Defeat Authorities’- 15 February 2008

Civil Georgia- Opposition Rejects Ruling Party’s Response, Calls for Protests- 14 February 2008

Civil Georgia- ‘We are Shocked by Ruling Party Response’ – Opposition Leader-14 February 2008