JAVAKHETI IS FACING NEW PROVOCATION
Lragir.am
28 April 06
It is almost a fact that Javakheti has appeared on the
Russian-Georgian theater, though it is situated rather far from the
borders of both countries. However, sure enough, it does not hinder
Russians from transforming this region into an epicenter of
anti-Georgian movement. On April 26 the inhabitants of Javakheti
blocked the way of the armored radio communication car, which had set
off from the Russian Military Base 102, stationed in this city.
The inhabitants of Akhalkalaki say they blocked the way of the armored
car because it means the withdrawal of the military base has already
begun. The Armenians of Javakheti are dissatisfied because when
Russians leave, their life will become harder. Russia is skillfully
using this card to guarantee its military presence in Georgia through
the Armenians of Javakheti. However, the Russian policy seems to be
acquiring elements of a double provocation. On April 27 the Russian
Federation urged the Georgian government to guarantee the security of
withdrawal of the Russian military base. Mikhail Kaminin, a Russian
foreign ministry official, stated that Moscow waits for Georgia to
take necessary steps in Akhalkalaki.
Obviously Russia is calling Georgia for applying force against the
Armenians of Javakheti who protest against the withdrawal of the
Russian military installation. In other words, Moscow is asking
Tbilisi to punish the same Armenians who are reflecting the interests
of the same Moscow.
Sure enough, a trick is played on Javakheti, and the Russians are
exposing Javakheti to two dangers. The method of ethnic provocations
failed, now the relations with the Georgian government are
employed. In other words, facing the imminent reality of losing
military presence, the Russians want to make a maximum use of this
imminent reality. One can imagine Georgian forces trying to disperse
the inhabitants of Akhalkalaki, protesting against the pullout of the
Russian forces. One can also imagine Russian channels showing
videotaped images of cruel repression of Russia’s friends, people whom
the Russian military base gave bread, and the Georgian forces give a
strike. Fortunately, the Georgian government has neglected these
provocations so far.
The minister of internal affairs Vano Merabishvili announced that
Russia is responsible for complications that occur during the
withdrawal of the Russian military base. Merabishvili also guaranteed
that there would be no mass protests against the withdrawal of the
Russian military installations from Samtskhe-Javakheti. Nevertheless,
it is certain that the withdrawal of Russian military bases may cause
greater trouble than the past years of its stationing. At any rate it
is clear that there is a demand for government level provocations
along with the withdrawal, which means that the event on April 26 will
not be the last.
Who will benefit from this? This question should not interest the
people of Javakheti, for they should have known the answer of another
question ` who will suffer from these provocations. Moreover, the
answer of this question might become quite tangible in some time.
HAKOB BADALYAN
