Baltic support for Georgia

RIGA-TALLINN- A parade of over 1000 supporters marched from the FreedomMonument to the Russian and Georgian embassies in support of Georgiaand against Russian aggression.

 Carrying white roses and signs reading "Putin! I cry because of you" and "hands off of Georgia-Russians go home" caused traffic blockage for hours as protestors paraded through the streets.

 The double meaning of many chants was not lost on participants. The cries of "Russians out!" was met with a light reprimand from the LATO Latvian Transatlantic Organization protest organizers that "we are in support of Georgia, not against the Russian people."

Several Russiasupporters, wrapped in Russian flags also attended and heckled participants.

The march ended at the Georgian embassy where supporters placed white roses in sympathy on the embassy ledges. Georgian embassy workers and the ambassador were pleased at the display and tearfully thanked the Latvians.

The Georgians in attendance sang Georgian songs and the mood was one of peace, not anger.

Similar protests and supportive actions were held in Lithauania and Estonia.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves called on Europe to take charge in ending the Russian attacks in Georgia.

 Ilves said that the scale and specificity of Russia's attacks indicated detailed planning.

"Essentially, Russiacopied the Serbiaand Kosovo scenario one-to-one: crippling of infrastructure, destroying military capacity, undermining the lawful regime and claiming humanitarian intervention."

Ilves said that the European Union must therefore resolutely support the legitimacy of the democratic and law-abiding government, which has not oppressed its own population in any way.

"It is the European Union that can and should be the strong power that induces the Russian Federationto end its military activity on the territory of the Republic of Georgia," he said.

Ilves continued that "War has broken out in Europe, a European nation has fallen victim to the aggression of its neighbor, and the European Union, as the bearer of European values, cannot remain a helpless bystander."

"We both understand that the European Union faces a very serious and fundamental choice, because the Russian attacks against Georgia unavoidably confront us with the task of reviewing several aspects of current cooperation between the European Union and Russia," the Estonian president said, adding that Russia's military strikes in Georgia tolled a knell for many of Europe's hopes, such the possibility of sharing common fundamental values with Russia.

To show Russiathat aggression will not be without consequences, President Ilves recommended that the European Union immediately suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia and further dialogue on this topic.