From: a-n@promin.pp.fi

Dear Friends,

We undersigned leading members of the Finnish NGOs got the following message just a couple of minutes ago. Also we got a same message from Mr Sergey Kovalyov, MP and a human rights activist of Russian Duma.

Ms Aila Niinimaa-Keppo, the Chairman of the Board of the Finland-Georgia Society visited Tbilisi on 12-16.6.99 and found out the situation of the political prisoners is even worse it used to be. Mr Kvirtiya, 24 years old, died on tuberculosis on 18.6. and others are in bad condition. The human rights are cruely violated in Georgia by the regime of Eduard Shevardnadze, who took the power in Georgia 1992 on a violent coup.

Please put a serious attention to the following message.

We know Dato Bichashvili and assure you his story is absolutely true. But he is going to die if he gets no help.

Please, it is a time to help Georgian political prisoners. The world cannot close eyes any longer, too many innocent people have died already in Georgia.

May God Bless You,

best wishes

The Finland-Georgia -Society

Aila Niinimaa-Keppo, Chairman, Editor

The Finland-Caucasian Association

Heikki Riihijarvi, Chairman, former MP, Vicar

The Finnish Helsinki Group

Heimo Rantala, Chairman

Tel + 358 9 1354 188, fax 1354 199

A Statement of the political prisoner

Dato Bichashvili (born 27.08.1962)

Hereby, I inform you that on 13 th of may 1999, I declared and started a hunger - strike, and in addition, on 11.th of June (30 days later) I started on ever - lasting hunger - strike ( the one that leads to death). To this day, none of my demands have been fulfilled. Now, for the last time, I demand:

1. The liberation of the prisoners arrested from the period of time from 1992 to this day, who, in the name of the legal President (Zviad

Gamsakhurdia ) and Government of Georgia struggled for The reabilitation of the legal President and Government.

2. The ceasing of persecution of The members and the supporters of the legal Government of Georgia, and provision of their safety.

Despite the fact my health is by now at critical state, in case of no reaction to my demands within a brief period of time (few days), I will no longer accept any medical help and will stop taking in fluids such as water.

I strongly demand the possibility to meet the representative of

international organizations, the European Union and the United National, in the presence of the members of the mass-media.

In case of no reaction to my main demands, the responsibility for my death will lei with E. Shevardnadze,.The ruling party, and the inhuman regime that established by them.

Signed by D.Bichashvili on June the 1st (the 50th day of the hunger-strike).

Aila Niinimaa-Keppo

Tel. +358 9 1354 188

Fax +358 9 1354 199

e-mail: a-n@promin.pp.fi