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ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHK DESERT THEIR MOTHERLAND
By Aghavni Haroutiunian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/12/2008
Javakhk
Interview with the President of "Yerkir" Union of Public Organizations
on Repatriation and Settlement Sevak Artsruni
- Mr. Artsruni, your organization raised the alarm about
Georgianization of the Armenian St. Norashen church in Tbilisi as
far back as June 2008. How do you assess the processes developing
at present?
- Norashen is only a manifestation of a whole process that started
since the independence of Georgia and becomes more dangerous. All
three Presidents of Georgia - Gamsakhurdia, Shevardnadze and
today Saakashvili - were guided by the same scenario against the
ethnic minorities of the country and led by the same principles not
giving political status to ethnic minorities in Georgia; creating
unbearable living and development conditions and forcing them to
immigrate and become an alien. Norashen is not the first and the only
manifestation of that policy. Since the independence of Georgia, a
number of churches were blown up and cemeteries destroyed (Khojivank
cemetery or Shamkhoretsots church in Havlabar). The Catholic Church
has similar problems as well. The latter ineffectually struggles to
return the temples belonging to it.
However, it is not right to say that the phenomenon has not provoked
discussions. In October 2007, the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights called on the Georgian authorities to return the expropriated
churches to their legal owners.
The Georgian diocese of the Armenian Church and the Embassy
of Vatican periodically filed appeals and protests to different
countries' diplomatic representatives in Georgia, mainly the Embassy
of France. The issue of the churches is on the agendas of their
discussions with the Georgian authorities. The Georgian Ombudsman,
the US Department of State and others also raise the issue in their
statements and reports.
However, until today the Georgian authorities treat all those appeals,
mediations and recommendations with absolute contempt.
- What is going on in Javakhk today?
- The Armenians of Javakhk desert their motherland. The Georgian
authorities consistently carry out the policy on alienation of the
Armenians here. Elements of that policy are: a/compulsion of the
Georgian language in all spheres of public life, including courts,
official correspondence with administrative bodies, in all types
of contacts with the residents and government bodies, b/ weakening
of political, social-economic, educational and cultural relations
between Armenia and Javakhk, c/passing of some new laws on compulsion
of the Georgian language, d/ prohibition on establishment of political
parties based on national principles to protect the rights of ethnic
minorities, e/ actual prohibition on foundation of higher educational
institutions based on Armenian language, etc.
At present, some of the Armenians in Javakhk endowed with talent for
leadership are imprisoned or emigrated, as they principally refused
to bargain. On the contrary, people without scruples that only think
of becoming rich, who are defamed and refused by the people, being
time-servers are ready to take obediently the orders of the Georgian
authorities, break the people's spirit and serve as a tool of the
Georgian policy on alienation of the Armenians.
- When speaking of the imprisoned political figures do you bear in
mind Vahagn Chakhalian?
- Yes, first of all him. The incidents (July 17-21, 2008) that happened
under extremely suspicious and strange circumstances - the explosion
near the house of the local chief of police and the assassination
of two Armenian policemen - were used as a pretext by the Georgian
authorities to settle a score with the "United Javakhk" democratic
alliance and its leader Vahagn Chakhalian - a famous activist
struggling for protection of rights of the Armenians in Javakhk.
After those incidents Vahagn Chakhalian, his father and juvenile
brother were arrested. Legal proceedings were brought against them for
"acquisition of weapons and armament". Later Vahagn Chakhalian was
charged with some other crimes, based on his political activities in
2005-2006, mainly organization of mass demonstrations.
- What is the real reason for arresting Vahagn Chakhalian?
- The "United Javakhk" movement and its leader Vahagn Chakhalian
deprived the Georgian authorities of an opportunity to speculate
about the so-called Javakhk separation, as they took the separation,
revolutionary and similar adventurous approaches out of the political
process.
Vahagn Chakhalian suggested that the Armenians of Javakhk should
struggle for their rights in a practicable way acceptable by the
international community.
Consequently, the Georgian authorities are really afraid of this
alternative and not the virtual calls for autonomy.
- Does it mean that the Georgian authorities are not ready for
a dialogue?
- They were not ready until today. But the latest developments in
the region may lead to change of situation.
Naturally, Georgia will continue to clutch at Ankara-Tbilisi-Baku axis,
but at the same time, it will have to take serious steps towards EU
integration. The rights of the Armenians in Javakhk as a national
minority should be involved in that process as a precondition. In
this sense, "Yerkir" Union of Public Organizations on Repatriation
and Settlement has carried out a sufficient work for years.
Mainly, in October 2007, with the efforts of "Yerkir" Union the
recommendations of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
to the Georgian authorities embraced the issues of registration
of the Armenian Apostolic Church and return of Norashen and other
expropriated churches.
Underlining the low level of political representation of the ethnic
minorities, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights bound
Georgia:
- to view the opportunity to let the ethnic minorities use their
languages in the local self-governing bodies' administrative works,
- to take all appropriate measures to provide adequate political
representation and participation for the ethnic minorities abolishing
language discrimination,
- to organize a dialogue between the groups showing interest in the
issues of the ethnic minorities and the civil society institutions.
It's worth to mention that "Yerkir" Union has created the necessary
prerequisites for the visit of the experts (European Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities) to Javakhk in
the mid of December.
- What initiatives are and will be taken by "Yerkir" Union to overcome
the crisis that the Armenians of Javakhk face?
- On July 21, 2008, the next day of the arrest, Vahagn and Armen
Chakhalians' mother Gayane Chakhalian told us that Vahagn asked
"Yerkir" Union to systematize his advocacy case.
In spite of the Georgian authorities' evident resistance, we have
succeeded in:
- splitting the informational vacuum of Vahagn Chakhalian's case
and making it well-known by carrying out fact-finding missions in
Akhalkalaki, issuing press releases and holding press conferences
to show that in the person of Vahagn Chakhalian and others we have
political prisoners,
- involving in the investigation of the case and compelling the
Georgian authorities to register an advocate from Armenia to defend
the interests of Vahagn Chakhalian and his family,
- involving in the investigation of the case the French attorney
Patrick Arapian well-known in the sphere of human rights,
- drawing the international institutions (following the democratization
processes in Georgia (OSCE, EC)) and human rights organizations'
attention to the case (some of them promised to follow the trial
through their observers).
At the previous court sitting of Chakhalians' case the attorneys
succeeded in showing proofs that Vahagn Chakhalian's juvenile brother's
arrest was illegal and as a result of it he was released on bail.
Even today, we consider our mission as partially
accomplished. Actually, the Georgian authorities' desire to condemn
Vahagn Chakhalian as a criminal failed. His father and brother
were released. The prosecutor's office and the judge continuously
adjourn the trial trying to concoct new criminal charges. And with
this scandalous trial the Akhaltskha court has become a platform of
condemnation of the Georgian policy on violation of the rights of
Armenians in Javakhk. What is happening today in Javakhk is in the
focus of international organizations' attention and will not be futile.
This counteraction has strengthened the Georgian authorities'
persecutions; they terrorize not only the activists and co-thinkers
of the "United Javakhk" but also everyone who dares to complain
of the present situation. They also carry out economic terrorism,
the last example is 10.000 US dollars bail for Armen Chakhalian,
in spite of the attorney's proofs that Armen's arrest was illegal.
Thus, a political procedure has started in Akhaltskha. And what
is happening and will happen is of secondary importance. The most
important thing is that from the first moment of the court sitting
the struggle of the Armenians in Javakhk will come onto political
platform and after that none of the Georgian statesmen can announce
that "The Armenians of Georgia don't have problems".
Thus, we call on everybody not to be disoriented and provoked and
to be guided by the norms of the international law and Georgian
legislation and in Javakhk, Armenia and Diaspora continue demanding
from the Georgian authorities the following:
- to release Armenian political prisoners
- to organize a dialogue between the groups showing interest in the
issues of the ethnic minorities and the civil society institutions,
- to give a legal status to the Armenian Apostolic Church and other
traditional churches in Georgia,
- to return the temples of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the
Roman Catholic Church expropriated in the Soviet period
- to give a status to the Armenian language as an internal clerical
and court language in Javakhk,
- to establish an Armenian-Georgian bilingual university in Akhalkalaki
based on corresponding educational program,
- to involve Javakhk in all regional economic projects.
By Aghavni Haroutiunian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/12/2008
Javakhk
Interview with the President of "Yerkir" Union of Public Organizations
on Repatriation and Settlement Sevak Artsruni
- Mr. Artsruni, your organization raised the alarm about
Georgianization of the Armenian St. Norashen church in Tbilisi as
far back as June 2008. How do you assess the processes developing
at present?
- Norashen is only a manifestation of a whole process that started
since the independence of Georgia and becomes more dangerous. All
three Presidents of Georgia - Gamsakhurdia, Shevardnadze and
today Saakashvili - were guided by the same scenario against the
ethnic minorities of the country and led by the same principles not
giving political status to ethnic minorities in Georgia; creating
unbearable living and development conditions and forcing them to
immigrate and become an alien. Norashen is not the first and the only
manifestation of that policy. Since the independence of Georgia, a
number of churches were blown up and cemeteries destroyed (Khojivank
cemetery or Shamkhoretsots church in Havlabar). The Catholic Church
has similar problems as well. The latter ineffectually struggles to
return the temples belonging to it.
However, it is not right to say that the phenomenon has not provoked
discussions. In October 2007, the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights called on the Georgian authorities to return the expropriated
churches to their legal owners.
The Georgian diocese of the Armenian Church and the Embassy
of Vatican periodically filed appeals and protests to different
countries' diplomatic representatives in Georgia, mainly the Embassy
of France. The issue of the churches is on the agendas of their
discussions with the Georgian authorities. The Georgian Ombudsman,
the US Department of State and others also raise the issue in their
statements and reports.
However, until today the Georgian authorities treat all those appeals,
mediations and recommendations with absolute contempt.
- What is going on in Javakhk today?
- The Armenians of Javakhk desert their motherland. The Georgian
authorities consistently carry out the policy on alienation of the
Armenians here. Elements of that policy are: a/compulsion of the
Georgian language in all spheres of public life, including courts,
official correspondence with administrative bodies, in all types
of contacts with the residents and government bodies, b/ weakening
of political, social-economic, educational and cultural relations
between Armenia and Javakhk, c/passing of some new laws on compulsion
of the Georgian language, d/ prohibition on establishment of political
parties based on national principles to protect the rights of ethnic
minorities, e/ actual prohibition on foundation of higher educational
institutions based on Armenian language, etc.
At present, some of the Armenians in Javakhk endowed with talent for
leadership are imprisoned or emigrated, as they principally refused
to bargain. On the contrary, people without scruples that only think
of becoming rich, who are defamed and refused by the people, being
time-servers are ready to take obediently the orders of the Georgian
authorities, break the people's spirit and serve as a tool of the
Georgian policy on alienation of the Armenians.
- When speaking of the imprisoned political figures do you bear in
mind Vahagn Chakhalian?
- Yes, first of all him. The incidents (July 17-21, 2008) that happened
under extremely suspicious and strange circumstances - the explosion
near the house of the local chief of police and the assassination
of two Armenian policemen - were used as a pretext by the Georgian
authorities to settle a score with the "United Javakhk" democratic
alliance and its leader Vahagn Chakhalian - a famous activist
struggling for protection of rights of the Armenians in Javakhk.
After those incidents Vahagn Chakhalian, his father and juvenile
brother were arrested. Legal proceedings were brought against them for
"acquisition of weapons and armament". Later Vahagn Chakhalian was
charged with some other crimes, based on his political activities in
2005-2006, mainly organization of mass demonstrations.
- What is the real reason for arresting Vahagn Chakhalian?
- The "United Javakhk" movement and its leader Vahagn Chakhalian
deprived the Georgian authorities of an opportunity to speculate
about the so-called Javakhk separation, as they took the separation,
revolutionary and similar adventurous approaches out of the political
process.
Vahagn Chakhalian suggested that the Armenians of Javakhk should
struggle for their rights in a practicable way acceptable by the
international community.
Consequently, the Georgian authorities are really afraid of this
alternative and not the virtual calls for autonomy.
- Does it mean that the Georgian authorities are not ready for
a dialogue?
- They were not ready until today. But the latest developments in
the region may lead to change of situation.
Naturally, Georgia will continue to clutch at Ankara-Tbilisi-Baku axis,
but at the same time, it will have to take serious steps towards EU
integration. The rights of the Armenians in Javakhk as a national
minority should be involved in that process as a precondition. In
this sense, "Yerkir" Union of Public Organizations on Repatriation
and Settlement has carried out a sufficient work for years.
Mainly, in October 2007, with the efforts of "Yerkir" Union the
recommendations of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
to the Georgian authorities embraced the issues of registration
of the Armenian Apostolic Church and return of Norashen and other
expropriated churches.
Underlining the low level of political representation of the ethnic
minorities, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights bound
Georgia:
- to view the opportunity to let the ethnic minorities use their
languages in the local self-governing bodies' administrative works,
- to take all appropriate measures to provide adequate political
representation and participation for the ethnic minorities abolishing
language discrimination,
- to organize a dialogue between the groups showing interest in the
issues of the ethnic minorities and the civil society institutions.
It's worth to mention that "Yerkir" Union has created the necessary
prerequisites for the visit of the experts (European Framework
Convention for the Protection of National Minorities) to Javakhk in
the mid of December.
- What initiatives are and will be taken by "Yerkir" Union to overcome
the crisis that the Armenians of Javakhk face?
- On July 21, 2008, the next day of the arrest, Vahagn and Armen
Chakhalians' mother Gayane Chakhalian told us that Vahagn asked
"Yerkir" Union to systematize his advocacy case.
In spite of the Georgian authorities' evident resistance, we have
succeeded in:
- splitting the informational vacuum of Vahagn Chakhalian's case
and making it well-known by carrying out fact-finding missions in
Akhalkalaki, issuing press releases and holding press conferences
to show that in the person of Vahagn Chakhalian and others we have
political prisoners,
- involving in the investigation of the case and compelling the
Georgian authorities to register an advocate from Armenia to defend
the interests of Vahagn Chakhalian and his family,
- involving in the investigation of the case the French attorney
Patrick Arapian well-known in the sphere of human rights,
- drawing the international institutions (following the democratization
processes in Georgia (OSCE, EC)) and human rights organizations'
attention to the case (some of them promised to follow the trial
through their observers).
At the previous court sitting of Chakhalians' case the attorneys
succeeded in showing proofs that Vahagn Chakhalian's juvenile brother's
arrest was illegal and as a result of it he was released on bail.
Even today, we consider our mission as partially
accomplished. Actually, the Georgian authorities' desire to condemn
Vahagn Chakhalian as a criminal failed. His father and brother
were released. The prosecutor's office and the judge continuously
adjourn the trial trying to concoct new criminal charges. And with
this scandalous trial the Akhaltskha court has become a platform of
condemnation of the Georgian policy on violation of the rights of
Armenians in Javakhk. What is happening today in Javakhk is in the
focus of international organizations' attention and will not be futile.
This counteraction has strengthened the Georgian authorities'
persecutions; they terrorize not only the activists and co-thinkers
of the "United Javakhk" but also everyone who dares to complain
of the present situation. They also carry out economic terrorism,
the last example is 10.000 US dollars bail for Armen Chakhalian,
in spite of the attorney's proofs that Armen's arrest was illegal.
Thus, a political procedure has started in Akhaltskha. And what
is happening and will happen is of secondary importance. The most
important thing is that from the first moment of the court sitting
the struggle of the Armenians in Javakhk will come onto political
platform and after that none of the Georgian statesmen can announce
that "The Armenians of Georgia don't have problems".
Thus, we call on everybody not to be disoriented and provoked and
to be guided by the norms of the international law and Georgian
legislation and in Javakhk, Armenia and Diaspora continue demanding
from the Georgian authorities the following:
- to release Armenian political prisoners
- to organize a dialogue between the groups showing interest in the
issues of the ethnic minorities and the civil society institutions,
- to give a legal status to the Armenian Apostolic Church and other
traditional churches in Georgia,
- to return the temples of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the
Roman Catholic Church expropriated in the Soviet period
- to give a status to the Armenian language as an internal clerical
and court language in Javakhk,
- to establish an Armenian-Georgian bilingual university in Akhalkalaki
based on corresponding educational program,
- to involve Javakhk in all regional economic projects.