SITUATION IN JAVAKHK IS DANGEROUS
A1+
[08:22 pm] 23 January, 2009
Georgia’s Interior Ministry has arrested Grigor Minasyan and Sargis
Hakobjanyan. They are actively engaged in the cultural life of
Akhaltskha town. Grigor Minasyan heads the "Armenian Youth Centre" and
Grigor Minasyan – "Charles Aznavour" Charity Foundation. A criminal
action has been filed. The detainees are charged with formation of
illegal groupings and espionage.
"Yesterday Georgia’s Intelligence Service raided the premises of the
Youth Centre. They took away part of the Centre’s library. The raid
was followed by the arrest of Grigor Minasyan and Sargis Hakobjanyan,"
Armenian MP and Chairman of the "Javakhk" Patriotic Union Shirak
Torosyan told A1+.
The indictment is ungrounded. Minasyan and Hakobjanyan have nothing
to do with politics. This is a state terror against leading Javakhki
figures. They want to disturb cultural and national life of Javakhk
and create an atmosphere of fear, horror and distrust.
The representatives of the Intelligence Service have found no weapon in
the detainees’ flats. Shirak Torosyan thinks similar attitude towards
Javakhki Armenians may lead to dangerous and undesirable consequences.
This can be the last straw for Javakhki Armenians. If Georgian
authorities should not forget that one they their misdeeds may
boomerang against them. I am convinced that there are no armed
groupings in Javakhk. I call on the Georgian authorities to sober up
and release Grigor Minasyan and Sargis Hakobjanyan who were transported
to Tbilisi after the arrest.
Mr. Torosyan says Armenian authorities, for their turn, should take
adequate measures. "They must clear up the matter, find the reasons
for their arrest as well as the aim of Georgian authorities.