ARMENIAN SUBJECTS HAVE NO RIGHT TO VISIT ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/09/2006
Otherwise They Will Be Arrested
According to information daily Azg gathered from reliable sources,
around 100 citizens of the Republic of Armenia serve a sentence at
Georgian prisons under very curious and queer charge.
In accordance with the article 334, 2d paragraph of the Georgian Penal
Code, the first crossing of Russian-Georgian border is liable to a fine
of 2.000 USD and the second crossing can be punished by 3 to 5 years
in prison. Border crossing in this case has a uniquely Georgian and
not very safe interpretation. It transpires, that Armenian citizens
are illegally crossing Georgia’s border when they appear in Abkhazia
or South Ossetia from the Russian territory.
Following Georgian logic Armenian citizens who have in recent years
visited Abkhazia and South Ossetia through Russia and not Georgia
were outlawed. It remains unclear how could Armenian citizens go
to Abkhazia and South Ossetia via Georgia when there is no such
possibility for that. As a "sign of crime" Georgian lawmakers look
in Armenian citizens’ passports for entrance or exit stamps from
Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
In effect, it turns out that Georgia closes the road to Abkhazia and
South Ossetia for Armenian citizens.
Though the Georgian authorities explain that is applied to all
foreigners, it is still puzzling how can Armenians visit their
relatives in Abkhazia.
This method that the Georgian state practices is harmonious
with Azerbaijan’s position on visits to Nagorno Karabakh by
foreigners. Azerbaijan raised hysteria about Russian journalists and
pop singers visiting Artsakh and labels its own citizens visiting
Karabakh traitors.