Kommersant, Russia
March 14 2005

Armenian Georgians Rebuff Russian Base Withdrawal

Rallies of many thousands were held in Georgian Akhalkalaki to
protest against the pullout of Russian military bases. The rallies
were triggered by the last week’s ultimatum of the Georgian
parliament, calling for Russia to determine by May 15 the exact dates
for withdrawal of its military bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi.

One of the military bases to be pulled out under the parliamentary
ultimatum is located in Akhalkalaki, the Javakheti region, where the
borders of Georgia, Armenia and Turkey are meeting. It is a region
with nearly 100 percent of Armenian population. In Akhalkalaki base,
the local Armenians serve under military contracts or work as
civilian employees. Despite the continuous pledges of the Georgian
executives to make up for the loss of employment, establish new
working places and transfer the base infrastructure to the local
authorities, Akhalkalaki residents rebuff withdrawal of Russia’s
motor rifle division. Javakhk organization, which is advocating
Javakheti autonomy within Georgian, is the usual leader.

This time was not an exception. Javakheti has responded to the March
10 resolution of the Georgian parliament, in which the latter
recommended authorities to start forcing Russian troops out of
Georgia after May 15. From 5,000 to 6,000 people took part in the
rallies staged past weekend in Akhalkalaki. The protesters were
calling for the base blockade if Russia has to start withdrawal,
intending to resort to the actions taken in Pridnestrovie. `We won’t
allow withdrawal of Russian troops. We will stand in the way and
hinder pullout, even if the process starts,’ one of the Javakhk
leaders told Kommersant.

At the meetings, the protestors were saying that a Turkish base will
replace the Russian one in Akhalkalaki. Georgia denies the rumors.