The widow of Georgia's first president, Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia, has requested political asylum in Germany. She has already sent an official appeal to Chancellor Angela Merkel via German Ambassador to Georgia Patricia Flor.Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia said her family has been persecuted for years, as local officials continue to violate the constitution, the Helsinki Declaration and U.N. conventions.
"I was forced to turn to the German government for asylum" she said.
She added that her son Tsotne, who is in custody on charges of attempted murder, started a hunger strike three days ago that could lead to tragic consequences.
Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia said if she is granted political asylum in Germany, she will not renounce Georgian citizenship.
The German Embassy in Tbilisi has not made a statement about Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia's appeal.