ARMENIAN “HOSTAGES” OF DARIAL GORGE
Russia Blames Georgia
Azg/am
9 Oct 04
It has been 40 days that truck driver Arshak Saribekian, 70, spends
nights in the gorge of Darial. The cold wind coming from river Terek
pierces into his bones. “We don’t eat regularly. We run out of fuel
and are unable to heat the cabins of the trucks, and wind is terrible
here”, he says.
It has been more than a month that Russia closed Upper Lars border
crossing of the Russian-Georgian border. Driver Arshak together with
many other drivers is being kept hostage in Darial gorge. They
transfer different Armenian goods such as carpets, juices of Noyan,
Jermuk mineral water, stone and caoutchouc.
The border-gate was supposed to open on October 5 for 3
hours. Georgian guards claim that they were ready to open the border
but no Russian car appeared during that 3 hours. Russian guards at the
Upper Lars checkpoint said that no order to open the border came. Even
if the border opened, only few trucks would manage to cross it in that
period.
There are around 100 vehicles, mainly trucks, stuck at the Georgian
side of Upper Lars and 1500 at the Russian side. Hundreds of the cars
at the Russian side belong to the Armenia Lada Company.
Drivers transporting the Company’s vehicles are furious at those
responsible for the border closure. The Company still managed to
convey 20 cars of “Volga” brand after the closure. Allegedly, the
vehicles were being imported by a high-ranking Armenian official’s
order.
The Russian side assures Armenians that Georgia is unwilling to open
the border and that’s why they can leave for home.
On October 7 Armenian consul to Tbilisi and an embassy employee left
for Upper Lars to learn about the situation at the spot.
The border opening depends on Russia’s decision, in fact. While
theRussian guards were waiting for an order to open it for 3 hours, no
order came from above. Russian authorities must be considering Darial
gorge a passing pointfor terrorists whereas everything seem quiet here
but for Arshak shivering with cold at night.
Some of the Armenian drivers at the Georgian side would gladly return
home if they had money. They have paid all necessary Georgian customs
duties but now they have to pay also to return, never crossing the
border. But they donâ=80=99t even have money for food.
Another driver Arkady Sahakian said that they allow them to go to the
nearest kiosks on the Georgian side twice a day for the necessary
stuff (they are now on a neutral territory). Kiosks, in their turn,
raised prices. The situation may easily turn into a humanitarian
disaster if it keeps this pace.
Drivers catch cold, they didn’t take bath for a month, and there isno
water and toilet. “Uncertainty” is the word to describe the
situation. People have T-shirts on whereas winter is taking ground in
the gorge.
A citizen of Byelorussia, Leonid Dubina, is exporting Noyan juices to
Moscow. “We have no way back unlike the Armenian drivers. No one is
bothered about us”, he said adding that Armenian drivers share their
food with them.
Sergey Kislitsa and Sergey Korolyov from Ukraine convey caoutchouc to
Donetsk. “We are hostages here. We have nothing to eat. We decided to
call a hunger strike but Russian guards are mocking at us telling to
turn to president Putin”, they said.
A bus heading for Krasnodar from Yerevan has been waiting at the
Georgian side for 38 days. There were only 8 passengers on the bus by
October 7, all others turned back to Armenia. Other 8 Armenians are
citizens of Russia.
Teacher Elya Babayan lives in Armavir. She has sold all her possession
and immigrated to Russia. The family is waiting for her but there is
no hope that she will reach her new home. “There is no way back. I
have no money left. We all sleep in the bus”, Elya says.
Elizaveta Badalian, 68, is a doctor from Vladikavkaz. “I am helping
the sick here, and now ask for help. It’s already cold here. I want my
home,in the end”.
By Tatoul Hakobian, Upper Lars and Aghavni Harutyunian, Tbilisi
P.S. Armenian embassy to Georgia supported in writing the article