Javakheti Armenians Boycott Self-Goverment Elections In Georgia

JAVAKHETI ARMENIANS BOYCOTT SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA 

Yerkir Union press release – On May 30 the elections of local self-government bodies of Georgia were held with the Javakheti Armenians boycotting them. Although according to the official figures the turnout of the voters in the Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda districts was 72% and 75% respectively, the actual turnout, according to the opinion of local and international observers was much lower, less than 20%. The local organisations protecting the rights of the Javakheti Armenians also made statements on non-recognition of the rigged elections.
The Javakheti Armenians by their non-participation in the elections, have expressed their attitude towards the policy of repression by the Georgian authorities in Javakheti in recent years, which they say are the following:
• Condemnation of the Javakheti Armenian political activist Vahagn Chakhalyan to 10 years of imprisonment on the basis of trumped-up charges, illegal large-scale persecutions of the Javakheti Armenian activists;
• Control of Georgian law enforcement agencies over the social and political life of Javakheti;
• Refusal to register local Armenian political organisations, defending the rights of the Javakheti Armenians;
• Flagrant violation of socio-political, linguistic, educational, cultural and religious rights of the Javakheti Armenians, guaranteed by the international standards of protection of the rights of national minorities.