Tamara Mearakishvili tells reasons for her hunger strike

Tamara Mearakishvili, a South-Ossetian activist, who went on a hunger strike in connection with the criminal prosecution, including on charges of defaming the ruling party "United Ossetia", demanded from local authorities to stop putting pressure on her. She decided to hold the protest action at home, fearing provocations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 17, 2017, Tamara Mearakishvili reported that the Prosecutor's Office of South Ossetia had accused her of slandering a member of the "United Ossetia". On March 24, it became known that Mearakishvili was accused of illegally obtaining a South-Ossetian passport and of using a forged document. Her defence treats the charges unjustified. On July 2, Mearakishvili began a week-long hunger strike.

By doing so, she intends to draw attention of the society and international organizations to violations of her rights, including the right to the freedom of travel. "This is a kind of a signal to remind about my existence and my violated rights: my freedom of travel is restricted; all the documents were confiscated and are now at the Prosecutor's Office. Without them I can't leave the republic," Tamara Mearakishvili told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She believes that the authorities are trying to put pressure on her as an "activist who voices out the problems of the district; and authorities do not like this."

According to her story, her hunger strike will be held at home and will last until July 9.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 3, 2018 at 05:49 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.