President Saakashvili said on March 19 that “dark forces” try to oppress freedom in Belarus.

He was speaking while meeting with a group of nine Georgian parliamentarians who were held by the Belarus special services on March 16 upon arrival in Minks to monitor March 19 presidential elections under the aegis of the OSCE observer mission. They were deported on late on March 18. All of them are parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party.

President Saakashvili also said that “darkforces similar to this [in Belarus] are operating in Tskhinvali [breakaway South Ossetia] and Sokhumi [breakaway Abkhazia].

“Belarus people are starting their fight for freedom today,” he said.

“I want to thank you, as you have demonstrated that we have very courageous young people in the Parliament,” Saakashvili said.