GEORGIANS VIOLATE JAVAKHETI ARMENIANS RIGHTS PRIOR TO SAAKASHVILI’S VISIT TO YEREVAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
23.06.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian authorities’ consistent policy aimed at
violating the rights of the Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti
has recently acquired coarser and more vivid manifestations. Georgian
National Security Council recently interrogated Javahk’s school
teachers preparing to leave for Armenia for trainings, "Yerkir"
union reported to PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The continue violating the rights of political activist Vahagn
Chakhalyan who was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on April 7,
2009. Besides, RA NA parliamentarian Shirak Torosyan who is well known
for his public speeches devoted to Javahk Armenians was denied entry
to Georgia without any explanation," the union says in a statement.

Concerned over the increasing dissatisfaction in Armenia, Diaspora
and international community, Georgian authorities intensified
persecutions against Armenians prior to President Saakashvili’s visit
to Armenia. In this way, they attempt to reiterate their unyielding
stance on Armenians of Javahk and impose new concessions of Armenia
through economic pressures.

" ‘Yerkir’ union calls on Georgian authorities to refrain
from persecution policy, as it may intensify existing
dissatisfactions. Hence, Georgian authorities’ attempts to transfer
Javahk issue to the level of intergovernmental relations will be
doomed to failure," runs the statement.

The union states that Armenian authorities, different structures
in Armenia and Diaspora, as well as international organizations are
obliged to implement effective steps towards eliminating the deepening
crisis in Javahk and resolving Armenian population’s problems in
compliance with international norms of protecting human rights and
ethnic minorities.