Armenian National Assembly member Shirak Torosyan said Armenians in Javakhk again suffer persecution on the threshold of elections to the local self-government.

“Armenian activists are unreasonably summoned by police. Exploiting Armenia’s dependence on Georgian transit routes, the Georgian authorities exert pressure on the Armenian population in Javakhk. Statements on friendly relations between the two countries are mere formality. Yerevan and Tbilisi’s playing ostrich forced Javakheti Armenians to think about autonomy. We won’t let Javakhk follow the fate of Nakhijevan,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“The newly established coordination council on protection Javakheti Armenians’ rights has developed an action plan. We will work with Armenian organizations across the globe,” Mr. Torosyan added.

He criticized the inferiority of the US State Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Georgia, which mentions the arrest of Vahagn Chakhalyan’s only.

As to opening of Upper Lars checkpoint, Mr. Torosyan said that Georgia has much to gain from restoration of relations with Russia.