Ukrainian detainees held in the basement of the buffer zone near the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on the Russia-Georgia border have called off their hunger strike following a visit from their consul. A Ukrainian national shared this development with Novaya Gazeta Europe.
The source explained that the consul outlined a clear course of action and assured them a detailed plan for exiting the buffer zone would be ready by Monday, August 11.
"Given this, along with his demonstrated efforts and commitment to resolving our situation, we decided to suspend the hunger strike. Seeing the consul actively working on our case has given us hope," the interviewee told Novaya-Europe.
However, he warned that if no progress is made in the coming days, the protest will resume. The situation at Verkhny Lars remains dire, with some Ukrainians reportedly nearing despair and even discussing suicide.