PARIS – ARMENIANS OF FRANCE DEMAND RELEASE OF CHAKHALYAN
Jean Eckian
important diaspora
2009/04/15 | 10:44
Yesterday april 14, a hundred Armenians living in Paris gathered in
front of Georgia’s embassy to require the release of Vahagn Chakhalyan,
the leader of the United Javakhk movement, who is being subjected to
political persecution by the Georgian authorities.
On April 7, Mr. Chakhalyan was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment
for "possession of weapons, deterioration of official buildings and
participation in a prohibited demonstration."
Representatives of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations
in France (CCAF), Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian of FRA
Dashnaksiutun were received by the Ambassador of Georgia, Mr. Mamuka
Kudava.
The French Armenian community representatives presented Ambassador
Kudava the formal complaints of the French organizations. They have
pointed out the fact, according to Union Yerkir, Chakhalyan was not in
possession of any weapon in his home. Moreover, the lawsuit had not
been justified and the proceedings were not transparent. Therefore,
they urged the immediate release of Mr. Chakhalyan.
Ambassador recorded the claims, assuring that they will be transmitted
to Tbilisi and underlining that the procedure would follow its course,
since Chakhalyan had lodged an appeal.
Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian then asked that French lawyers
work for the defense of the leader of United Javakhk.