CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED DUE TO SCUFFLES BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND ADZHARIANS OF TSALKA GEORGIAN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net - Criminal proceedings are instituted on facts of scuffles between the Armenian and Adzharian populations of the Tsalka Georgian region May 9, A-Info news agency reported. According to the source, at present the passions have relatively settled down. As Chairman of the regional administration Razmik Hanesian assures, the contingent of internal forces in the region was not increased. 150 soldiers of internal forces, brought in the other day, will stay for several days. However, the Adzharian community of the region continues expressing concern, stating "Armenians have arms and these should be taken away." Meanwhile, the Armenian population says Adzharians are armed, citing a range of cases, when arms were used against them "for the purpose of frightening." Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Georgy Baramidze has arrived in the Tsalka region May 13 to familiarize with the situation at the scene. Besides, Armenian deputy from Tsalka region Hayk Meltonian is expected to discuss the question with Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania or National Security Minister Zurab Merabishvili in the evening. It should be reminded that May 9 in the regional center of Tsalka (Eastern Georgia) after a football match between young residents of local villages a scuffle between Adzharians and Armenians took place. As a result, 10 were injured.