SEVAK ARTSRUNI: VAHAGN IS GOING TO WIN

Lragir.am
16/12/09

Three important events took place related to Chakhalyan case as well
as in general the problems of the Armenians from Javakhk, said the
head of the Yerkir union Sevak Artsruni.

First was the letter of the Yerkir union addressed to the EU special
representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby in connection with
one of his interviews where he said that the national minorities of
Georgia have social and economic development problems. According to
Artsruni, this does not totally reflect the reality but the important
is that for the first time a European high-ranking official accepted
in public the existence of such a problem.

The second is the speech of the Georgian foreign minister Grigol
Vashadze addressed to the French Senate parliamentarians where he
publicly lied saying that Vahagn Chakhalyan was judged for giving
information to a third country without noting what country it is. In
reality, Chakhalyan was accused of having illegal weapons and causing
mass disorders. And the third event is that after the complaints of
Yerkir union, the report of the Georgian embassy to France related to
Vahagn Chakhalyan and the problems of the Armenians living in Javakhk
was released.

The member of Yerkir union Robert Tatoyan said in turn that all the
information of the Georgian embassy’s letter was mutated as if there
are no social, educational, religious, cultural problems in Georgia in
relation with the Armenians living in Javakhk. Chakhalyan is noted to
be judged in Akhalkalak while in reality he was judged in Akhaltskha.

The fact that Vahagn’s brother and father were beaten up, and Vahagn
himself was beaten up in prison is not mentioned.

According to Artsruni, Georgia has to answer. They do not manage to
hide the case any longer. The repression on the Georgian authorities
was enhanced not only by Armenians but also by international circles.

A headquarter where the future actions will be discussed was set up
in France. There will again be political statements, negotiations
with the board coordinating French-Armenian organizations are
underway to present a protest against Vashadze because of his
statements. Sevak Artsruni said there are going to be meetings with
French parliamentarians.

According to Artsruni and Tatoyan, thanks to their active work the
trial was rendered a political case. From 10 years of imprisonment,
Chakhalyan got 9 years for political activities and 1 for illegal
weapons.

The head of the Yerkir union noted that they are going to appeal to
the court of appeal and after to the European court.

There are signs proving that the Georgian government is going to accuse
Chakhalyan of new articles. Chakhalyan will be set free in the end,
he is not going to stay in prison for 10 years, says Artsruni.

Dwelling on the media problem, Tatoyan noted that the Georgian press
does not dwell on this issue at all but serious discussions take place
in blogs which means that in Georgia they are aware of the problem.

The human rights office is an organization which dwells on this issue
and supports Vahagn. Turkish and Azerbaijani press also dwell on
this issue supporting the Georgian government. Abkhazian and Ossetian
press also touch upon this issue, noted Robert Tatoyan.