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JAVAKHETI ARMENIANS PROTEST STRICT BORDER CROSSING PROCEDURES
By Ruben Meloyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 20 2006
Scores of residents of Georgia's Javakheti region protested near the
Armenian-Georgian border on Monday demanding that border crossing
procedures be simplified for the province's Armenian population.
The participants of the action held upon the initiative of the
United Javakhk organization claimed that the border connecting the
Armenian-populated Georgian province with Armenia is becoming 'a
strictly controlled dividing line' and blamed official Yerevan for
continuing to raise obstacles on the border.
The organization denounced the Armenian authorities for their policy of
'cutting and alienating the Armenians of Javakheti from the homeland'
and demanded that psychologically pressuring obstacles at the borders
and the customs house be removed.
"The border between Javakhk and Armenia must be transparent and
conventional," Armenians of Javakheti say, adding that the issue
should deserve the attention of Armenia's executive and legislative
bodies and that a corresponding law should be adopted.
According to Georgian MP David Rstakian, the protestors expressed
their indignation also that Armenia's law-enforcement agencies have
not yet dropped the charges against United Javakhk board member Vahagn
Chakhalian for "illegally crossing the state border of Armenia." They
also expressed their anger over Chakhalian's being unable to return
to Javakheti despite his release from custody.
Chakhalian was taken to custody and charged with illegally entering
Armenia on October 11.
Chakhalian, a citizen of Georgia, was released from custody on October
30, but was confined to city boundaries with a written undertaking
he signed.
Chakhalian's lawyer Tigran Hayrapetian told RFE/RL that his client's
case had been sent to court. He said the court is to decide within
15 days whether to accept the case or dismiss it.
The lawyer said it was still unclear to them for what 'illegal actions'
his client spent about 20 days in the pre-trial detention prison of
the National Security Service.
Back then prosecutors insisted that Chakhalian illegally crossed
the border at the Bavra check point. Therefore, the lawyer says, the
workers of the border check point who allowed Chakhalian's entrance
into Armenia should also have been punished. For that very reason,
according to Hayrapetian, it is said in the newly formulated charges
that in crossing Armenia's state border Chakhalian used devious ways.
Hayrapetian said this gives him reasons to hope that the court will
acquit his client or dismiss the case against him.
By Ruben Meloyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 20 2006
Scores of residents of Georgia's Javakheti region protested near the
Armenian-Georgian border on Monday demanding that border crossing
procedures be simplified for the province's Armenian population.
The participants of the action held upon the initiative of the
United Javakhk organization claimed that the border connecting the
Armenian-populated Georgian province with Armenia is becoming 'a
strictly controlled dividing line' and blamed official Yerevan for
continuing to raise obstacles on the border.
The organization denounced the Armenian authorities for their policy of
'cutting and alienating the Armenians of Javakheti from the homeland'
and demanded that psychologically pressuring obstacles at the borders
and the customs house be removed.
"The border between Javakhk and Armenia must be transparent and
conventional," Armenians of Javakheti say, adding that the issue
should deserve the attention of Armenia's executive and legislative
bodies and that a corresponding law should be adopted.
According to Georgian MP David Rstakian, the protestors expressed
their indignation also that Armenia's law-enforcement agencies have
not yet dropped the charges against United Javakhk board member Vahagn
Chakhalian for "illegally crossing the state border of Armenia." They
also expressed their anger over Chakhalian's being unable to return
to Javakheti despite his release from custody.
Chakhalian was taken to custody and charged with illegally entering
Armenia on October 11.
Chakhalian, a citizen of Georgia, was released from custody on October
30, but was confined to city boundaries with a written undertaking
he signed.
Chakhalian's lawyer Tigran Hayrapetian told RFE/RL that his client's
case had been sent to court. He said the court is to decide within
15 days whether to accept the case or dismiss it.
The lawyer said it was still unclear to them for what 'illegal actions'
his client spent about 20 days in the pre-trial detention prison of
the National Security Service.
Back then prosecutors insisted that Chakhalian illegally crossed
the border at the Bavra check point. Therefore, the lawyer says, the
workers of the border check point who allowed Chakhalian's entrance
into Armenia should also have been punished. For that very reason,
according to Hayrapetian, it is said in the newly formulated charges
that in crossing Armenia's state border Chakhalian used devious ways.
Hayrapetian said this gives him reasons to hope that the court will
acquit his client or dismiss the case against him.