Elizbarashvili declared a hunger strike in a Tbilisi prison.
The arrested entrepreneur Tamaz Elizbarashvili in Tbilisi has declared a hunger strike with two demands: to be allowed to speak with his elderly mother and to undergo surgery.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 15, the lawyer announced that by the investigator's decision, Tamaz Elizbarashvili is prohibited from short-term and long-term visits, correspondence, and phone calls.
The entrepreneur and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili was detained on September 1. He claimed to be persecuted by the authorities after a conflict with employees of a pro-government television channel. On September 3, Tamaz Elizbarashvili was charged with making threats of murder or causing harm to health, and on September 4, the Tbilisi City Court ordered his arrest. The appellate court upheld the arrest decision. Under part 1 of Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (threat of murder or causing harm to health), the 60-year-old entrepreneur faces up to one year in prison.
Tamaz Elizbarashvili announced that today, September 28, he began a hunger strike with two demands: to be allowed to call his mother and to undergo surgery on his injured knee, reports "Interpressnews".
I am starting a hunger strike this morning with two demands
He explained that a representative of the investigative agency prohibited him from having a phone conversation with his mother. "For my 84-year-old bedridden, sick mother, hearing my voice is the best medicine. [...] I am starting a hunger strike this morning with two demands: give me the right to call my mother; perform surgery on my injured knee," the agency quoted Elizbarashvili's words.
The entrepreneur explained that his knee was injured by a television channel employee during a conflict in a restaurant, and the injury "requires surgery," writes "Georgia Online".
"The lawyer handed the relevant medical form to the prison chief... I am experiencing terrible pain, but there is a zero response from the prison staff," the publication quotes Elizbarashvili.
It should be noted that according to the investigation, on August 30, a conflict occurred at the restaurant involving Elizbarashvili and a long-time opponent: he entered into a verbal dispute with him over past comments on social media. The businessman promised to return in half an hour and "not to leave this matter just like that." Knowing that Elizbarashvili had a weapon, the opponent and his companions left. Around midnight, Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant, but not finding his opponents, left. The defense rejected the investigation's version that Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant with a weapon.
Tamaz Elizbarashvili is known as a businessman and the owner of a shelter for homeless dogs. During the flood in Tbilisi in June 2015, his shelter suffered from the disaster: about 80 dogs died, and 14 animals were saved. In 2016, the city hall fined Elizbarashvili for the unauthorized installation of protective railings in the Vere Gorge. He explained that he installed the fence due to the danger to people after the flood and the inaction of the authorities.