"YERKIR" UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR REPATRIATION AND
SETTLEMENT

Press-release
Contact: Robert Tatoyan
Mobile: +(374 94) 36 17 93
E-mail: rob@yerkir.org

August 10, 2009
Yerevan, Armenia

THE GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES ARE PLANNING A PROVOCATION AGAINST JAVAKHETI
ARMENIAN POLITICAL PRISONER VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN

«Yerkir» Union became aware through reliable sources, that the Georgian
authorities are planning a provocation against Javakheti Armenian political
activist Vahagn Chakhalyan, aimed at physical liquidation or neutralization
of the latter.

The reliability of this information is indirectly supported by the fact that
on the 31st of July, 2009 Vahagn Chakhalyan was transferred from Gldani
prison ?-8 of Tbilisi to the general regime colony ?-2 in Rustavi, where the
conditions for a possible provocation are much more favorable.

«Yerkir» Union states that the responsibility for possible provocation
against Vahagn Chakhalyan lies personally and directly on the Georgian
President -Mikheil Saakashvili and the Minister of Internal Affairs of
Georgia -Vano Merabishvili.

«Yerkir» Union calls upon the Georgian authorities to guarantee the safety
of Vahagn Chakhalyan and to this end to transfer Javakheti activist back to
his former place of detention.

«Yerkir» Union asks the Public Defender of Georgia Sozar Subari, the
international human rights organizations, and accredited diplomatic missions
in Georgia to take effective steps to ensure the personal safety of Vahagn
Chakhalyan.