Is the leader of Djavakheti extremists forming an armed group?

 

Is the leader of Djavakheti extremists forming an armed group?Vaagan Chakhalyan plans riots in southern Georgian, where the Armenian population dominatesGiorgi Kalatozishvili, TbilisiExclusively for Vestnik KavkazaKarina Grigoryan, a former police officer, an Honor Decoration holder, has made a sensational statement. She told the mass media about the plans of the well-known figure Vaagan Chakhalyan to form in Djavakheti (a region in southern Georgia where the Armenian population dominates) an armed group for committing terrorist attacks. “According to information of my source, Chakhalyan plans riots in the region. He has already gathered an armed group (60-70 people) and sets ultimatums to the current authorities,” Grigoryan says. According to her, “if Chakhalyan fulfills his ideas in practice, I state that it will be the fault of the current authorities due to their thoughtless steps; they have been warned many times that Chakhalyan is a threat to the region, and his release from jail would be a mistake.”She is a significant figure, as well as Chakhalyan. One of the last orders of former president Saakashvili was to award Karina Grigoryan with the highest decoration of Georgia – the Honor Decoration. The presidential administration quickly invited accredited journalists to the great hall of the Ablabar Palace to “an important event.” Saakashvili personally stated about a noble gesture by “a true citizen of Georgia”, Karina Grigoryan – she resigned and left the Department of Counterintelligence of the Interior Ministry in protest against the release of Vaagan Chakhalyan from jail, according to a decision of the new parliament.The ruling Georgian Dream coalition came to power in October 2012 and amnestied two-thirds of all prisoners, including those who were accused of extremism, espionage, and anti-government activities. Later, the leaders of Georgian Dream explained that this was due to the fact that Vaagan Chakhalyan was sentenced to jail for several years not for separatism or formation of armed groups, but for a fight in one of the Djavakheti state facilities, i.e. for hooliganism.It seems Karina Grigoryan as an employee of the special services knew about the activities of Chakhalyan in detail, dealt with him, and that’s why she decided to resign. Former president Saakashvili, who had only nominal power by that time (at least he could award people), decided to mark the patriotic deed by a citizen who “rose above ethnic nationalism”, as he said when he awarded Karina Grigoryan with the highest decoration.Then Saakashvili and Chakhalyan’s roads crossed. When the president visited Akhalkalaki, the administrative center of Djavakheti, Chakhalyan came to him (we admit that he is a very bold person) together with a group of supporters and began to ask him rhetorical questions about “an unfair trial,” “dictatorship,” and “violation of Armenians’ rights in Djavakheti.”He spoke in Georgian, even though he didn’t speak the language before his arrest. He studied the state language in jail; and his teachers were other prisoners.“Why don’t you return our churches? Why do you blow them up?” Chakhalyan asked the president of Georgia. The guard didn’t stop him, as Saakashvili gave them a sign not to interfere in “the dialogue”. Then the communicators began to speak Russian. The dialogue ended with a blow-up.“Do you think it’s you who should judge me?” Saakashvili attacked. “I will listen to all citizens, but I won’t let such people as you teach me morality.” In the end, Chakhalyan ran away, shouting “Misha, go to Turkey! Misha – to Turkey!”Is it realistic that Chakhalyan manages to form a group of 60-70 people for an armed struggle aimed at the separation of Djavakheti from Georgia? The Interior Ministry of the country states that the situation in the region is under control, and there are no threats of any incidents, let alone armed riots. Djavakheti hasn’t seen demonstrations with political slogans for a long time, it is true. However, journalists don’t know where Chakhalyan is or what he is doing. They couldn’t find him after the sensational statement by Karina Grigoryan. We hope that the law-enforcement agencies are aware of his activities and the place where he is located.

 

 

 

Vaagan Chakhalyan plans riots in southern Georgian, where the Armenian population dominates.

Giorgi Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi
Exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
Karina Grigoryan, a former police officer, an Honor Decoration holder, has made a sensational statement. She told the mass media about the plans of the well-known figure Vaagan Chakhalyan to form in Djavakheti (a region in southern Georgia where the Armenian population dominates) an armed group for committing terrorist attacks. “According to information of my source, Chakhalyan plans riots in the region. He has already gathered an armed group (60-70 people) and sets ultimatums to the current authorities,” Grigoryan says. According to her, “if Chakhalyan fulfills his ideas in practice, I state that it will be the fault of the current authorities due to their thoughtless steps; they have been warned many times that Chakhalyan is a threat to the region, and his release from jail would be a mistake.”
She is a significant figure, as well as Chakhalyan. One of the last orders of former president Saakashvili was to award Karina Grigoryan with the highest decoration of Georgia – the Honor Decoration. The presidential administration quickly invited accredited journalists to the great hall of the Ablabar Palace to “an important event.” Saakashvili personally stated about a noble gesture by “a true citizen of Georgia”, Karina Grigoryan – she resigned and left the Department of Counterintelligence of the Interior Ministry in protest against the release of Vaagan Chakhalyan from jail, according to a decision of the new parliament.
The ruling Georgian Dream coalition came to power in October 2012 and amnestied two-thirds of all prisoners, including those who were accused of extremism, espionage, and anti-government activities. Later, the leaders of Georgian Dream explained that this was due to the fact that Vaagan Chakhalyan was sentenced to jail for several years not for separatism or formation of armed groups, but for a fight in one of the Djavakheti state facilities, i.e. for hooliganism.
It seems Karina Grigoryan as an employee of the special services knew about the activities of Chakhalyan in detail, dealt with him, and that’s why she decided to resign. Former president Saakashvili, who had only nominal power by that time (at least he could award people), decided to mark the patriotic deed by a citizen who “rose above ethnic nationalism”, as he said when he awarded Karina Grigoryan with the highest decoration.
Then Saakashvili and Chakhalyan’s roads crossed. When the president visited Akhalkalaki, the administrative center of Djavakheti, Chakhalyan came to him (we admit that he is a very bold person) together with a group of supporters and began to ask him rhetorical questions about “an unfair trial,” “dictatorship,” and “violation of Armenians’ rights in Djavakheti.”He spoke in Georgian, even though he didn’t speak the language before his arrest. He studied the state language in jail; and his teachers were other prisoners.
“Why don’t you return our churches? Why do you blow them up?” Chakhalyan asked the president of Georgia. The guard didn’t stop him, as Saakashvili gave them a sign not to interfere in “the dialogue”. Then the communicators began to speak Russian. The dialogue ended with a blow-up.“Do you think it’s you who should judge me?” Saakashvili attacked. “I will listen to all citizens, but I won’t let such people as you teach me morality.” In the end, Chakhalyan ran away, shouting “Misha, go to Turkey! Misha – to Turkey!”
Is it realistic that Chakhalyan manages to form a group of 60-70 people for an armed struggle aimed at the separation of Djavakheti from Georgia? The Interior Ministry of the country states that the situation in the region is under control, and there are no threats of any incidents, let alone armed riots. Djavakheti hasn’t seen demonstrations with political slogans for a long time, it is true. However, journalists don’t know where Chakhalyan is or what he is doing. They couldn’t find him after the sensational statement by Karina Grigoryan. We hope that the law-enforcement agencies are aware of his activities and the place where he is located.