Imedi TV, Georgia
27 Oct 06
ETHNIC ARMENIAN MOVEMENT RALLIES IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA TO DEMAND
RELEASE OF LEADER
[Presenter] Supporters of the Javakhk movement are holding a rally in
front of the cultural centre in Akhalkalaki [a predominantly ethnic
Armenian town in southern Georgia]. The Javakhk members are calling
for one of their leaders, Vakhtang (?Chakhalyan), to be released.
Chakhalyan was one of those behind the seizure of the local
administration building in Akhalkalaki on 8 October. He is being held
in Yerevan. Young people appeared at the rally in special outfits
with Armenian flags on their sleeves. Political statements are being
made at the rally.
[Arab Batoyan, addressing crowd in Russian] Those who want to improve
their lives risk being arrested. Today it will be for illegally
crossing the border but tomorrow it could be for breathing in too
much air. We call on the leaders of Armenia and Georgia not to
resolve their problems at the expense of the future of Javakhk
[Javakheti] and to take into account the interests of our people. We
gathered here to demand the immediate release of illegally detained
Chakhalyan. Thank you.
[Artur Polosyan, captioned as Javakhk member, addressing crowd in
Russian] In all these years not one job has been created. The
government of this country promised to create thousands of jobs in
Akhalkalaki to replace those lost when the Russian military base is
withdrawn. However, that has not yet happened. That could lead to a
tense social and economic situation. It is not possible to resolve
social and economic problems in the region just by painting the
facades of buildings.