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GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES TARGET JAVAKHK ARMENIANS ALIGNED WITH OPPOSITION
Kristine Aghalaryan
hetq
18:56, June 25, 2012
Yesterday, Georgian authorities arrested Javakhk Armenian activist
Georgy Mkhchyan, who had recently aligned himself with Georgia's
opposition Dream Party, charging him with real estate fraud.
Local observers claim that this arrest is the latest in a series of
moves by Georgia targeting Javakhk Armenians who are working with
the Georgian opposition.
The real estate, in the town of Akhalkalak, recently became the
regional office of the Dream Party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Investigators from the Georgian Ministry of Finance have accused
Mkhchyan of falsifying documents regarding the purchase of the site.
If found guilty, Mkhchyan faces 4-7 years imprisonment.
Also accused in the fraudulent land deal is Melik Rayisyan, a former
member of the Georgian parliament. Rayisyan was charged with fraud
two days after joining the Georgian Dream Party and expressing his
support for Ivanishvili.
Georgian law enforcement is now looking for Rayisyan who, up until
2008, was twice elected to represent the Akhalkalak district in the
Georgian parliament.
Rayisyan and his family lived in Akhalkalak till 2004 and then moved
to Tbilisi, where they resided till 2007. . That year, Rayisyan moved
to Armenia, while maintaining residences in Tbilisi and Akhalkalak,
settling in Armenia permanently in 2008.
Georgy Mkhchyan worked as Rayisyan's chauffeur for five years,
joining the Dream Party as well.
Melik Rayisyan's son claims that the police search for his father and
the arrest of Georgy Mkhchyan are politically motivated, linking them
to the fact that both men recently joined the opposition Dream Party.
As to why Rayisyan, who until 2008 had worked closely with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili, decided to join the opposition, his
son told Hetq that his father was "concerned about the increasing
Turkification of Javakhk under the current Georgian regime."
"My father, understanding the severe political and social situation
of Javakhk and the Javakhk Armenians, has always desired to improve
things and defend the interest of the people. That's why he joined
the opposition, to put an end to the reign of terror and intimidation
by the authorities."
The son couldn't say how his father planned to stop the Turkification
of Javakhk.
Georgy Mkhchyan's father Alik is also convinced that his son was
arrested for being a member of the Dream Party.
"My son was an activist who wanted the Armenians to remain here. It's
a lie that he falsified any real estate documents," says Alik Mkhchyan.
Georgy Mkhchyan's attorney has said that the court will not hear the
case for another two months.
After arresting Georgy, Georgian authorities moved him to Akhaltskha
and then to Tbilisi.
Kristine Aghalaryan
hetq
18:56, June 25, 2012
Yesterday, Georgian authorities arrested Javakhk Armenian activist
Georgy Mkhchyan, who had recently aligned himself with Georgia's
opposition Dream Party, charging him with real estate fraud.
Local observers claim that this arrest is the latest in a series of
moves by Georgia targeting Javakhk Armenians who are working with
the Georgian opposition.
The real estate, in the town of Akhalkalak, recently became the
regional office of the Dream Party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Investigators from the Georgian Ministry of Finance have accused
Mkhchyan of falsifying documents regarding the purchase of the site.
If found guilty, Mkhchyan faces 4-7 years imprisonment.
Also accused in the fraudulent land deal is Melik Rayisyan, a former
member of the Georgian parliament. Rayisyan was charged with fraud
two days after joining the Georgian Dream Party and expressing his
support for Ivanishvili.
Georgian law enforcement is now looking for Rayisyan who, up until
2008, was twice elected to represent the Akhalkalak district in the
Georgian parliament.
Rayisyan and his family lived in Akhalkalak till 2004 and then moved
to Tbilisi, where they resided till 2007. . That year, Rayisyan moved
to Armenia, while maintaining residences in Tbilisi and Akhalkalak,
settling in Armenia permanently in 2008.
Georgy Mkhchyan worked as Rayisyan's chauffeur for five years,
joining the Dream Party as well.
Melik Rayisyan's son claims that the police search for his father and
the arrest of Georgy Mkhchyan are politically motivated, linking them
to the fact that both men recently joined the opposition Dream Party.
As to why Rayisyan, who until 2008 had worked closely with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili, decided to join the opposition, his
son told Hetq that his father was "concerned about the increasing
Turkification of Javakhk under the current Georgian regime."
"My father, understanding the severe political and social situation
of Javakhk and the Javakhk Armenians, has always desired to improve
things and defend the interest of the people. That's why he joined
the opposition, to put an end to the reign of terror and intimidation
by the authorities."
The son couldn't say how his father planned to stop the Turkification
of Javakhk.
Georgy Mkhchyan's father Alik is also convinced that his son was
arrested for being a member of the Dream Party.
"My son was an activist who wanted the Armenians to remain here. It's
a lie that he falsified any real estate documents," says Alik Mkhchyan.
Georgy Mkhchyan's attorney has said that the court will not hear the
case for another two months.
After arresting Georgy, Georgian authorities moved him to Akhaltskha
and then to Tbilisi.