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Protest Rallies for the Release of Ossetian Hostages in Europe

February 24, 2010

Mari Otarashvili

Foreigners are also concerned about the fate of Ossetian hostages in Georgian detention settings. German political party Die Linke is particularly interested in this problem.

“Federal government of Germany should put the Tbilisi regime to shame once and for ever. President Merkel shall not be polite in the field of human rights. By exposing the crimes of Saakashvili she should redeem her mistakes,” said chairperson of the Ossetian-German public union Karl-Haints Vendt.

Demonstrations in support of Ossetian hostages in the detention settings of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia are organized not only in Germany but in Poland and Belgium too. In those countries, the rallies were organized in front of Georgian embassies by Ossetian Diaspora in those countries as well as representations of other countries. Participants requested the government of Georgia to release Ossetian hostages and provide information about missing people to their relatives.

Ossetian media sources reported that the protest rally in Warsaw two days ago was outstanding of all; the organizers categorically demanded the release of Ossetian hostages from Georgian detention settings and informing the relatives of missing people about them. Similar demonstration was organized in Berlin. According to the news agency “Osinform”, the demonstrations were organized by German and Polish people. 

Before those demonstrations, protest rally was organized in Tskhinvali on January 15. Relatives of the Ossetian hostages in Georgian detention settings, missing Ossetian people and hostages kidnapped by Georgian special forces participated in the demonstration.

“Demonstrators called upon the international organizations to evaluate the kidnapping of Ossetian citizens by Georgian special forces from Ossetian territory properly. This fact shall be evaluated as state terrorism,” reported Naira Plieva, relative of the missing Alan Khachirov to the news agency “Re”.

On January 14, “Osinform” reported that similar demonstrations would be organized in Brussels, Berlin and Warsaw. In Brussels, the demonstration was organized by Ossetian Diaspora “Alanti Nikhas” together with Belgian organization; in Berlin – demonstration was organized by local political party Die Linke together with German-Ossetian culture center.

This party is considered one of the most influential political powers in Germany. During recent federal elections in 2009 the party gained 11, 9 % of votes and they obtained 76 mandates in the parliament out of total 662 seats. The party is the fourth one among ruling political parties in Germany. Representation of Die Linke intends to appeal to the Georgian embassy together with Ossetian Diaspora.

“Government of Germany should put the Tbilisi regime to shame for their activities,” it was the slogan of the demonstration organized by German-Ossetian society (DSOG) in front of the Georgian embassy in Berlin on February 19. The organization requests release of military hostages from Georgian detention settings.

“We will influence the government of Georgia and it will continue before the last hostage leaves the detention setting,” said Karl-Haints Vendt in his interview with Osinform. “German federal government shall put the Tbilisi regime to shame once and for ever. President Merkel shall not be polite in the field of human rights; by exposing Saakashvili’s crimes, she should redeem her mistakes.”

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