Press-release
YERKIR UNION
EUrope
Mail: contact@yerkir.eu
Web:

ARMENIA
Contact: Robert Tatoyan
Mobile: +374 94 36 17 93
Email: rob@yerkir.org
Web:

Akhalkalaki – Yerevan, March 19, 2010

The U.S. State Department report on human rights contains inaccurate
information concerning the problems of the Javakheti Armenians

(Open Letter from the Coordinating Council for the Protection of the
Javakheti Armenians’ rights to the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
Marie L. Yovanovitch)

Madam Ambassador,

On March 11, 2010 the U.S. State Department released its annual Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices. The section on National/Racial/Ethnic
Minorities of the report on Georgia (electronic version:
/eur/136032.htm) contains,
among others, data about the problems of the Javakheti Armenians.
Whereas the attention of the U.S. government to the problems facing the
Armenian minority of Georgia can be regarded as positive, it is
important to note that a number of issues facing Javakheti Armenians are
completely omitted, and some examples of violation of human rights are
presented in the report with factual inaccuracies.

So, while the report focuses attention on the demand of the Javakheti
Armenians to grant the Armenian language a regional status, is says
nothing about the below-listed manifestations of discriminatory
policy of the Georgian authorities towards the Javakheti Armenians:

– The Georgian legislation bans the establishment of political
organizations on a regional basis. For this reason the Georgian
authorities refuse to register "Virk" political party representing the
interests of the Armenian population in Akhalkalaki, depriving the
organization, of the possibility to participate in the local government
elections;

– The Armenian population is disproportionately represented in the
local government and administrative bodies in the regions of its
compact residence (Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka district of
Kvemo-Kartli);

– The Georgian authorities impose mandatory legislative and
administrative measures to compel the minorities in the regions of their
compact residence to use exclusively the Georgian language in all
spheres of public life. It is in clear contradiction with the
international commitments undertaken by Georgia, including those under
the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities;

– The Georgian border guards pose obstacles to transportation of
Armenian books and press to Javakheti, etc.

The Report, presenting the details of the Javakheti Armenian activist
Vahagn Chakhalyan’s case, keeps silence on systematic political
persecutions of other Javakheti Armenian activists in 2007-09 by the
Georgian authorities. Meanwhile, as a result of direct and indirect
pressure by the Georgian law-Enforcement structures, threats,
persecutions and trials in absentia, dozens of Javakheti Armenian
activists were forced to leave the country and/or stop their political
activity (Arthur Pogosyan, Gurgen Shirinian, Aram Batoyan, Gregory
Minasian, Sergey Hakobjanyan and others).

The Report contains factual inaccuracies in regard to the case of the
Chakhalyan’s family. It is erroneously stated that Ruben and
Armen Chakhalyans, arrested in July 2008 together with Vahagn
Chakhalyan, are `all members of the local NGO `United
Javakh’. In fact, Ruben and Armen Chakhalians are
correspondingly the father and the younger brother of the Javakheti
Armenian political activist, and they have no direct relation to the
political activities of Vahagn Chakhalyan.

Further on the report states that `In 2006 the men (i.e.,
Vahagn, Ruben and Armen Chakhalyans) reportedly attempted to break into
the Akhalkalaki municipal building, wounding the police in the
process’. There is no mentioning, however, of the fact that this
incident occurred four days after the local elections in Georgia on
October 9, 2006, when the son of the chief of police of Akhalkalaki shot
from a gas pistol at the people, gathered to protest against rigged
election results, and then the crowd was attacked by the Akhalkalaki
chief of police himself. Strangely enough, the criminal case opened
immediately after this incident, was sent to court not in 2006 or 2007,
but after the arrest of Vahagn Chakhalyan and his family members on July
21, 2008, when the Georgian authorities felt the need to make the
charges brought against the Javakheti political activist more
ponderable.

Furthermore, the statement in the Report, asserting that the proceedings
in the case of Vahagn Chakhalyan were held in Akhalkalaki District
Court, is not corresponding to the reality. In reality, the trial of the
Javakheti Armenian activist and his family members was held in
Akhaltsikhe in blatant violation of the principle of jurisdiction.
Akhaltsikhe court rejected all the motions of the defense to transfer
the proceedings to Akhalkalaki, in accordance with the principle of
jurisdiction.

The Report does not contain any reference to the numerous violations
that accompanied the Chakhalyans’ case proceedings in court, the
violations that were recorded by such reputable human rights
organization, as is the International Federation for Human Rights
(FIDH).

Taking into consideration the facts mentioned above, the Coordinating
Council for the Protection of the Javakheti Armenians’ rights,
fearing that this incorrect information can be subsequently used in
other related documents, address the U.S. State Department, asking to
reconsider the part of the Report related to the Javakheti issues and
the Chakhalyan’s case.

THE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE
JAVAKHETI ARMENIANS

* The Compatriotic-charitable non-governmental organization "Javakhk"

* Analytical Center `Mitq’

* The political party "Virk"

* The public movement "Javakhk’

* "Yerkir’ Union of NGOs for Repatriation and Settlement

Contact Europe: <mailto:contact@yerkir.eu> contact@yerkir.eu

Contact Arménie: Robert Tatoyan: + 374 (0) 94 36 17 93 –
<mailto:rob@yerkir.org> rob@yerkir.org