“HUMANE” OSSETIANS AND “INHUMAN” GEORGIANS

Why Armenian Embassy to Russia Keeps Silent

Azg/am
21 Oct 2004

Eduard Kokoyti, President of unacknowledged South Ossetia, turned to
be interested in the fate of dozens of Armenian hostages of Ergneti
settlementon the Georgian-Ossetian border. Regnum news agency informs
that the latter met the Armenians.

Boris Chichoyev, representative of South Ossetia on the issue of
Russian-Ossetian confrontation, and Marat Kulahmedov,
commander-in-chief ofpeacekeeping forces, also visited the
Armenians. South Ossetia, Ossetia’s official newspaper, defined
Georgia’s actions as “inhuman” in an article titled “Armenian
Hostages”. The newspaper informs that local Ossetians help the
Armenians, supply them with food and water, send doctors to them and
offer lodges for night.

There is no reason to disbelieve. We witnessed Georgians helping
Armenians at the Kazbegi settlement of Russian-Georgian border few
weeks ago. But it’s a pity that Georgians and Ossetians alike
try to use Armenians’ adversity to settle their own political
problems.

Russia also has its own calculations. After having closed the Upper
Lars border crossing, Russian frontier guards send Armenians to
illegal checkpoint of Lower Zamarag-Tskhinvali-Ergneti knowing
beforehand that they will not be allowed to cross it. One may presume
that Russia wants to discredit Georgian authorities and throw
obstacles on the way of Yerevan-Tbilisi relations.

It’s hard to understand why Russia considers Tbilisi-Kazbegi-Upper
Lars-Vladikavkaz route that is controlled by Tbilisi (only Vladikavkaz
is under Russia’s control) to be dangerous. Is there any terrorist who
uses checkpoints to pass a border? If terrorists really pass to Russia
through Georgian-Russian checkpoints then why can’t they use South
Ossetia for the same purpose?

There are other questions as well. For instance, why do Armenian
embassy to Russia, consulates in Sochi and Rostov-on-Don keep silent?
Why don’t they visit Armenian citizens and try to support them? They
certainly cannot open the closed border but they can at least try to
keep back Armenians from going to South Ossetia and becoming “victims”
of Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian policy.

Armenians have been using the Georgian route to reach Russia for 14
years before border closure. They were often robbed on their way. The
Armenian press often wrote about the anarchy in South Ossetia, Georgia
and North Ossetia (Russia). I witnessed many incidents when buses with
Armenian citizens werestopped and passengers were robbed. It’s useless
to pretend humane and manipulate with Armenian-Ossetian,
Armenian-Georgian and Armenia-Russian “friendship”.

Armenia should make all possible efforts to hold Armenians back from
entering South Ossetia as long as Russian-Georgian border is
closed. Otherwise the number of Armenian “captives” will increase. If
Armenian state is unable totake out its citizens of Ergneti then it
should turn to the international organizations such as the Red Cross,
which has experience of dealing with such problems.

By Tatoul Hakobian