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Armenian "Hostages" of Darial Gorge

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  • Armenian "Hostages" of Darial Gorge

    ARMENIAN "HOSTAGES" OF DARIAL GORGE

    Russia Blames Georgia

    Azg/am
    9 Oct 04

    It has been 40 days that truck driver Arshak Saribekian, 70, spends
    nights in the gorge of Darial. The cold wind coming from river Terek
    pierces into his bones. "We don't eat regularly. We run out of fuel
    and are unable to heat the cabins of the trucks, and wind is terrible
    here", he says.

    It has been more than a month that Russia closed Upper Lars border
    crossing of the Russian-Georgian border. Driver Arshak together with
    many other drivers is being kept hostage in Darial gorge. They
    transfer different Armenian goods such as carpets, juices of Noyan,
    Jermuk mineral water, stone and caoutchouc.

    The border-gate was supposed to open on October 5 for 3
    hours. Georgian guards claim that they were ready to open the border
    but no Russian car appeared during that 3 hours. Russian guards at the
    Upper Lars checkpoint said that no order to open the border came. Even
    if the border opened, only few trucks would manage to cross it in that
    period.

    There are around 100 vehicles, mainly trucks, stuck at the Georgian
    side of Upper Lars and 1500 at the Russian side. Hundreds of the cars
    at the Russian side belong to the Armenia Lada Company.

    Drivers transporting the Company's vehicles are furious at those
    responsible for the border closure. The Company still managed to
    convey 20 cars of "Volga" brand after the closure. Allegedly, the
    vehicles were being imported by a high-ranking Armenian official's
    order.

    The Russian side assures Armenians that Georgia is unwilling to open
    the border and that's why they can leave for home.

    On October 7 Armenian consul to Tbilisi and an embassy employee left
    for Upper Lars to learn about the situation at the spot.

    The border opening depends on Russia's decision, in fact. While
    theRussian guards were waiting for an order to open it for 3 hours, no
    order came from above. Russian authorities must be considering Darial
    gorge a passing pointfor terrorists whereas everything seem quiet here
    but for Arshak shivering with cold at night.

    Some of the Armenian drivers at the Georgian side would gladly return
    home if they had money. They have paid all necessary Georgian customs
    duties but now they have to pay also to return, never crossing the
    border. But they donā=80=99t even have money for food.

    Another driver Arkady Sahakian said that they allow them to go to the
    nearest kiosks on the Georgian side twice a day for the necessary
    stuff (they are now on a neutral territory). Kiosks, in their turn,
    raised prices. The situation may easily turn into a humanitarian
    disaster if it keeps this pace.

    Drivers catch cold, they didn't take bath for a month, and there isno
    water and toilet. "Uncertainty" is the word to describe the
    situation. People have T-shirts on whereas winter is taking ground in
    the gorge.

    A citizen of Byelorussia, Leonid Dubina, is exporting Noyan juices to
    Moscow. "We have no way back unlike the Armenian drivers. No one is
    bothered about us", he said adding that Armenian drivers share their
    food with them.

    Sergey Kislitsa and Sergey Korolyov from Ukraine convey caoutchouc to
    Donetsk. "We are hostages here. We have nothing to eat. We decided to
    call a hunger strike but Russian guards are mocking at us telling to
    turn to president Putin", they said.

    A bus heading for Krasnodar from Yerevan has been waiting at the
    Georgian side for 38 days. There were only 8 passengers on the bus by
    October 7, all others turned back to Armenia. Other 8 Armenians are
    citizens of Russia.

    Teacher Elya Babayan lives in Armavir. She has sold all her possession
    and immigrated to Russia. The family is waiting for her but there is
    no hope that she will reach her new home. "There is no way back. I
    have no money left. We all sleep in the bus", Elya says.

    Elizaveta Badalian, 68, is a doctor from Vladikavkaz. "I am helping
    the sick here, and now ask for help. It's already cold here. I want my
    home,in the end".

    By Tatoul Hakobian, Upper Lars and Aghavni Harutyunian, Tbilisi

    P.S. Armenian embassy to Georgia supported in writing the article
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