Armenian Diocese calls upon Saakashvili and other leaders of the UNM
to abstain from provocative statements

22:58, January 26, 2013

The release of political prisoners and other amnestied persons,
including Vahagn Chakhalyan caused furious reactions from the
opposition party, United National Movement. During the last weeks, and
especially yesterday their representatives have been making incorrect
statements, trying thus to disseminate anti-Armenian sentiments in the
multinational Georgian society.

President Mikheil Saakashvili and Secretary General of the UNM Vano
Merabishvili stated that Vahagn Chakhalyan, whom they had imprisoned
on political grounds, was a separatist, agent of foreign intelligence
services and an enemy of the Georgian state. With such frank
statements the President and former Minister of Interior recognized
that when the UNM was in power justice practically did not exist. If
Chakhalyan was truly a separatist and an agent then the question would
be why was he not judged in accordance to the appropriate articles of
the Penal Code in Georgia? This paradox has only one explanation:
during its years in power, the former government had been using the
system of justice against its political opponents.

Moreover, President Saakashvili allowed himself to mention the name of
His Holiness, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, saying that
Vahagn Chakhalyan was liberated upon His Holiness’ request. We would
like to highlight that this request was based on humanistic beliefs
and had originated from Chakhalyan’s parents’ appeal which could not
have remained without the attention of the Spiritual Pastor of All
Armenians. Secondly, Mr. Chakhalyan was included in the amnesty, as he
was accused of crimes covered by the law of Georgia `On amnesty’
entered into force on 12 January 2013.

During the recent days President Saakashvili has repeatedly mentioned
the surname of another former political prisoner Armen Gevorgyan, who
was equally accused by the President of espionage. Is that really so
that from the list of 200 political prisoners Saakashvili could read
exceptionally these surnames and reproduce them for certain reasons?
It should be mentioned that as we know His Holiness
Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II himself solicited the
President in favor of Armen Gevorgyan’s release.

The Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia
condemns the above mentioned actions and statements and calls upon the
politicians to refrain from using them for their short-term political
objectives. These issues directly affect the peace and calmness in our
multiethnic Motherland, as well as relations between the brotherly
Georgian and Armenian nations.

We are convinced that despite all political or other circumstances,
our nations will continue strengthening and deepening good-neighborly
and fraternal relations. Ethnically Armenian citizens of Georgia were
and will continue to be devoted sons of Georgia.

Press service of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress