Appeal to World Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 13
Tbilisi, Georgia

Appeal of the Public Defender of Georgia to

Mr. BAN KI-MOON, Secretary Secretary General of the UN,
Mr. H.E. Srgjan Kerim, President of the General Assembly of the UN,
Mrs. Louise Arbor, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Mr. Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, President of the European Parliament,
Mr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission,
Mr. Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,
Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union,
Mr. Carl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden,
Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe,
Mr. Terry Davis, The Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
Mr. Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the PACE,
Mr. P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, European Ombudsman,
Mr. Marc Perrin, OSCE Secretary General,
Mr. Joao Soares, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

and the Leaders of democratic countries

Russian tanks have been occupying Georgian cities one after another and are pushing ahead to the capital of Georgia. I have never hesitated to reveal the mistakes that have been made in our country in terms of the protection of human rights and rule of law. I will not fall silent either in future. However, today when the Russian army openly started marching towards the capital of Georgia and has launched the occupation of our country, all other issues take a back seat as far as the only way to build the Free society in Georgia is to retain the independency.

The Georgian people have the power and ability to determine themselves the future of their country. The Georgian people will fight to the end in this unequal battle to defend their freedom.

I appeal to all international organizations and the leaders of all democratic countries not to leave my country alone in this fight, to take effective measures in order to guard the internationally recognized principles and to help the Georgian people to protect their Freedom.

Information Division, Office of Ombudsman of Georgia