SHIRAK TOROSIAN: GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES DISREGARD PROBLEMS GEORGIAN ARMENIANS ARE CONCERNED WITH

Noyan Tapan

F eb 25, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. An action of protest was
held on February 25 near the building of Embassy of Georgia in
Armenia on the initiative of the Javakhk compatriotic union and
other organizations. The action participants carried placards with
inscriptions "Javakhk is my homeland," "Freedom to Javakhk activists,"
and others. Union Chairman, RA NA deputy Shirak Torosian said that in
spite of the permanent complaints of Armenians of Javakhk and Armenians
of Georgia in general, the Georgian authorities continue disregarding
and neglecting the problems the Armenian minority is concerned with.

According to him, in addition to traditional problems including
problems of language, Armenian Apostolic Church’s illegal status,
new troubles have also emerged lately. According to the deputy, the
Georgian authorities with a number of steps further aggravated the
tension and discontent atmosphere among the Armenians of Javakhk. Thus,
the Georgian police groundlessly bring to police dozens of Javakhk
Armenian public activists, who are released only after being
threatened and intimidated. As a result, according to S. Torosian,
the atmosphere of fear and distrust increases day by day among the
Armenians of Javakhk, which results in increase of migration rates
of Armenians from the region.

The action participants demanded ensuring fulfillment of the
powers reserved by the law On Local Self-government, liquidating
the artificial obstacles at the state frontier Bavra check-point,
stopping the police persecutions in Samtskhe-Javakhk-Tsalka, etc. They
called the Armenian authorities for including these issues in the
Armenian-Georgian interstate relations’ agenda and getting down to
their solution.