Georgian frontier guards didn’t allow Yerkir Union Chairman into Georgia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian frontier guards prevented Chairman of Yerkir Union Sevak Artsruni from crossing the Armenian-Georgian border.

On March 19, the Coordinating Council for Protection of Javakheti Armenians' Rights (CCPJAR) published an open letter addressed to U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch, presenting inaccuracies in 2010 human rights report of the U.S. Department of State concerning Javakheti Armenians' problems and political prisoner Vahagn Chakhalyan, the CCPJAR reported.

In its turn, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia sent the letter to the U.S. diplomatic representation in Georgia, as a result of which CCPJAR representatives Sevak Artsruni and Robert Tatoyan were invited to Tbilisi to discuss the problems of Javakheti Armenians with US embassy representatives.

However, on June 21 Georgian representatives did not allow Sevak Artstruni to cross the Armenian-Georgian border without providing any explanations. Thus, only Tatoyan had the opportunity to participate in the meeting and provide details on the incident. He also handed over a letter of the Coordinating Council, which urges the U.S. government to mediate in the dialogue with the Georgian authorities to solve the problems of Javakheti Armenians and release Vahagn Chakhalyan.

Besides, member of the Armenian National Assembly Shirak Torosyan was also expected to participate in the June 21 meeting, however, the Georgian authorities informed him ahead of time that he will not be allowed to enter Georgia.