Opposition Leader Gedevan Popkhadze Continues Hunger Strike, Demands New Elections and Release of Political Prisoners
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Gedevan Popkhadze, one of the leaders of the opposition Coalition for Change, remains on hunger strike outside the Georgian Parliament alongside several activists. The group began their protest on October 28, demanding the release of what they call political prisoners and the scheduling of new, fair parliamentary elections.
Speaking to InterpressNews, Popkhadze said the two demands are "non-negotiable" and essential for restoring democracy in the country. "There is no other way out for Georgia," he said. "The Georgian Dream party has decided to stay in power forever, to ban any political group with more than five percent support. This means there will be no political competition, and without that, there is no future."
Popkhadze accused the ruling party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, of concentrating power and wealth at the expense of citizens. "Ivanishvili has put the country in his pocket and looks at people as slaves," he said. "Slave revolts end very badly. This kind of social system cannot exist in a free country."
He argued that the current political environment prevents genuine opposition and stifles public choice. "When only one voice is allowed in Parliament, elected through falsified elections, and when there are hundreds of political prisoners, the country loses its direction," Popkhadze said. "This is why I chose the hunger strike - to show that some of us are ready to make personal sacrifices for change."
According to Popkhadze, four people are currently participating in the hunger strike, including activist Darejan Tskhvitaria. The protest follows a series of demonstrations calling for electoral reform and the release of detained opposition figures.
"The authorities must recognize they cannot monopolize politics," Popkhadze added. "They have to understand that without fair elections and without freeing political prisoners, Georgia will continue to slide toward escalation and destruction."
Popkhadze and the other activists say they plan to continue their hunger strike until the government meets their demands.
