Georgian diaspora pickets European Commission office

Some 20 people protested at the square near the building, holding photographs of people who in their view were arrested for lack of loyalty to Saakashvili regime.

Many consider Tsotne Gamsakhurdia one of them.

There are 50 political prisoners in Georgia, and they are waiting for your help, their motto states.

After the 2-hour rally the protesters sent an open letter to the Commission's head's office called on European Commission President Barroso to estimate the fact of political prisoners in Georgia.

Merab Blandadze, one of the rally organizers, said protesters are working on establishment of own organisation to "strive for restoration of justice and release of political prisoners".

In his view, Georgians residing in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, came to Brussels to participate.

"We are not expressing our opinion - international human rights activists officially admitted the presence of 8 political prisoners in Georgia, but there has been no assessment of this fact from the side of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Why so? Are there are only Saakashvili lobbyists in Brussels and Strasbourg?" Bladadze asked.

/Georgia Times/