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About 200 protesters demanding former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release from prison have stopped a mass hunger strike announced on December 21, following the former president’s request to do so on January 1.

United National Movement (UNM) head Nika Melia announced a mass hunger strike for Mikheil Saakashvili’s release during a UNM rally in central Tbilisi on December 21.

A total of nine tents were set up on Kakheti Highway, close to the central office of the UNM party, in which supporters of the former president protested his imprisonment. Among the protesters were members of the party, including Nika Melia and civil activists.

Melia stated that the decision was made at Saakashvili’s request, noting that otherwise he would have been ‘forced to resume’ the hunger strike.