Ukrainian Citizens Detained in Tbilisi Stop Hunger Strike
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, January 9
Six Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen detained in Tbilisi in early December have stopped about a 20-day hunger strike protesting against their “illegal detention.
The individuals who were charged with the purchase and possession of weapons say that they stooped the protest as their relatives and doctors advised so and added that they do not believe in the investigation.
The people, who were participating in military activities in Ukraine, were detained on December 2nd, ahead of the opposition rally in Tbilisi protesting against the victory of Salome Zurabishvili as the new president of Georgia.
Georgian serviceman who fought in Ukrainian battalion Donbass Luka Chkhetia is among the detainees.
His father Sergo Chkhetia told reporters that his son was going to participate in the opposition protest rally.
Ukraine’s president adviser Yuriy Biryukov said that among the Ukrainian citizens who were detained in Georgia, was the Supreme Rada MP and battalion Donbass commander Semen Semenchenko.
“I have various contacts. They confirm the information that Semenchenko is in Tbilisi, that Semenchenko has dragged us into the diplomatic scandal, that Semenchenko has framed his people and fled the last moment,” he said.
The Ukrainian media also reported that his status “saved” Semenchenko from detention.
Semenchenko confirmed that he was in Tbilisi but called rumors to his escape and possible links with the opposition rally protesting against the election results in Georgia.
“The people who are detained now were not present at the rally at all,” Semenchnko said.
The detainees may face imprisonment from eight to twelve years.
