TENSION IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI INCREASES

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of Tax Service arrived in Akhalkalaki
region of Samtskhe-Javakheti region from Tbilisi. By a decision of
Service representatives some ten shops were closed. Today some 300
citizens gathered in front of the building of Regional Prefecture to
voice protest against the Georgian authorities’ decision. In response
Akhalkalaki gendarmerie soldiers starting dispersing those gathered,
beating them with rubber batons. The gendarmes also fired in the air
with submachine-guns. Several peoples suffered from the beating and
were taken to hospital. Citizens and residents of neighboring villages
are now gathering in the city center. The situation is tense in the
city. Javakheti NGO leaders are sure that the mass closure of shops
owned by Armenians and the cruel dispersal of the peace rally are an
attempt by Georgian authorities to put pressure upon Javakheti after
the Javakheti NGO Council urging Georgian authorities on September 24,
2005 to provide status of autonomous federal subject of Georgia to
Samtskhe-Javakheti region mostly populated by Armenians. Aggressive
actions of Georgian authorities do not leave other choice to Armenian
population of the region, but using force to defend their rights,
leaders of Javakheti NGOs suppose, reported Javakhk.Info.