Saakashvili's fainting changes plan of protest actions

After the transfer of Mikhail Saakashvili into the intensive care unit, the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party has cancelled the protest march and called on activists to gather for a large-scale rally on November 19. The leader of the "Georgian Dream" Party threatened the supporters of Saakashvili's transfer to a civil clinic with responsibility for possible incidents, which caused a protest of the country's Ombudsperson.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the 49th day of his hunger strike, Saakashvili lost consciousness while meeting his advocates. He has already come to his senses and is in the intensive care unit.

On November 10, oppositionists announced their intention to hold daily protests demanding the release of the ex-president.

Nika Meliya, the UNM leader, has called on everyone "who believes that the third president of the country should not be killed" to gather in the square on November 19, the "InterPressNews" reports.

In his turn, Irakli Kobakhidze, the leader of the "Georgian Dream", has treated Saakashvili as an ordinary prisoner, since the country's Constitution stipulates the equality of all its citizens.

Earlier, Georgian authorities expressed doubts that Saakashvili was really on a hunger strike. Thus, in October, the Georgia's Minister of Justice announced that Saakashvili was eating porridge and drinking juices. The former president replied that he takes no food, but after such Minister's statement he refused to drink juices, vitamins and minerals.