PRESS-RELEASE
"YERKIR", UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR REPATRIATION AND
SETTLEMENT
Contact: Robert Tatoyan,
Tel. +(374 10) 46 50 21; +(374 94) 36 17 93
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
January 23, 2009
Yerevan, Armenia
STATEMENT BY THE "YERKIR" UNION IN RESPECT OF THE DETENTION OF GRIGOR
MINASYAN AND SARGIS HAKOBJANYAN – THE PUBLIC ACTIVISTS OF THE ARMENIAN
COMMINITY OF GEORGIA
On January 22, 2009 the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
of Georgia detained Grigor Minasyan, the director of the Akhaltskha Armenian
Youth Center of Samtskhe-Javakheti Region of Georgia and Sargis Hakobjanyan,
the chairman of "Charles Aznavour" charitable organization. They were
charged with "preparation of crime", according to Article 18 of the Criminal
Code of Georgia, and "formation or leading of a paramilitary unit" (Part 1
of Article 223) and "espionage" (Part 1 of Article 314).
The "Yerkir" Union considers these arrests as a deliberate provocation by
the Georgian authorities, aimed at deterioration of the situation in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region and worsening the Armenian-Georgian relations in
order to achieve the following objectives:
1.. To distract the gradually increasing attention of the international
community from the trial of the Javakheti Armenian political activist Vahagn
Chakhalyan, during which the leader of the "United Javakhk" and its
advocates raise the concerns and problems of the Javakheti Armenians, and
demand their solution, which impels the Georgian authorities to commit new
and apparent violations and iniquities at the court proceedings.
2.. By putting up the playing card of the "Armenian separatism" before the
international community, to avoid complying with its international
obligations on the protection of the rights of the national minorities,
including the Armenian minority.
3.. By putting up the same "Armenian separatism" card, to push the
Armenian authorities to new compromises when it comes to solution of the
problems of the Armenians of Javakheti and Georgia.
Therefore, the "Yerkir" Union appeals to the international community, urging
them to take immediate measures in order to halt the deepening crisis and to
address the socio-economic, linguistic, educational and religious problems
of the Armenian minority of Georgia.
The international community has an obligation to send a clear message to the
Georgian authorities, emphasizing that they have no alternative to the
solving the problems of the ethnic minorities living in the country. Only a
democratic Georgia, respecting its ethnic diversity, can avoid further
disruption and guarantee the sustainable development of the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
