Author: Hunanian Jack

ARMENIAN STUDENTS FROM GEORGIA DEMAND THAT THEIR RELATIVES’ SECURITY
BE PROVIDED AND THOSE GUILTY OF TSALKA INCIDENT BE PUNISHED
YEREVAN, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 1, several
dozens of students from Yerevan higher schools, Armenians from
Georgia, held an action of protest in front of the building of
Georgian Embassy in Yerevan. The students demanded that the security
of their relatives living in Georgia be provided. The incident that
happened on June 25 in the Tsalka Georgian region populated with
Armenians became an occasion for the action of protest. During this
incident the special detachments opened a fire at 2 young Armenians,
one of which, 25-year-old Vladimir Nazaretian, was seriously
injured. Two action participants met with Revaz Gachechiladze,
Georgian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, and
presented their demands. Armen Avetisian, Deputy Chairman of the
Javakhk youth organization, mentioned that the ambassador expressed
hope that such cases won’t be repeated and those guilty will be
punished. The ambassador reported that he will meet with the students
again on July 6. The chairman of the Javakhk compatriot union of
Armenia will be also invited to the meeting. The students expect that
the demands they conveyed to the ambassador will be taken to the
notice of the Georgian authorities and at the next meeting they will
be informed about the steps being taken. The ambassador presented a
version, according to which the Armenians, at which the special
detachments opened a fire, were going from Tsalka to the region
populated with Greeks for the purpose of provoking international
conflicts. But the Armenian students assured that it is impossible as
Armenians and Greeks living in Georgia are good neighbors. The
students insisted that this isn’t an ordinary incident as the
ambassador tried to represent but a political one. “The shot at
Vladimir Nazaretian was aimed at all Armenians of Tsalka and pursues
the goal of cleansing the region from Armenians,” Artyusha Grigorian,
Chairman of the Javakhk youth union, mentioned. Vladimir Nazaretian
who got three fire injuries is in one of Tbilisi hospitals at present
and his condition remains serious. According to Grigorian, Nazaretian
was injured in his legs and breast. He mentioned that one of the
bullets passed some centimeters far from his lung and he remained
alive by a miracle. According to Eduard Poladov, representative of RA
Ombudsperson, the students who were anxious about the fate of their
relatives asked the Ombudsperson to apply to his Georgian colleague in
connection with the incident. Poladov mentioned that as, according to
their information, no one was called to account, two representatives
of Ombudsperson’s office, he and Ruben Martirosian, wanted to receive
explanations from the ambassador but they weren’t allowed to enter the
Embassy.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH LEBANESE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF
PARLIAMENT IN BEIRUT
BEIRUT, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vartan Oskanian who is
on a three-day visit in Beirut, met with Emil Lahud, the President of
the Republic of Lebanon on July 1. Passing RA President Robert
Kocharian’s greetings, Vartan Oskanian mentioned that Armenia followed
the last months developments in friendly Lebanon with concern, and is
happy that stability is re-established in the country in what
President Emil Lahud’s personal efforts were also decisive. As for the
Armenia-Lebanon interstate relations, the Minister mentioned that
during the last years, the existing political cooperation of a high
level is summed up by the mutual interest of business circles as well,
owing to what Lebanese investments in Armenia are significantly
increased in separate spheres, particularly in small and middle
business. Then the parties exchange opinions around a number of
international and regional issues of mutual interest. Minister
Oskanian briefly presented the present negotiation process,
developments and prospects of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict as well as the state of the Armenian-Turkish relations and
approaches of Armenia in the sense of their settlement. Visiting the
Parliament of lebanon, V.Oskanian congratulated Nabih Berri, on the
occasion of having been re-elected for the honorary post of the
Chairman of the Parliament. Mutual satisfaction was expressed with the
process of the Armenian-Lebanese interparliamentary cooperation
founded in 1993, which has been of continuable character: mutual
visits of the Chairmen of the Parliaments took place, Deputy Groups
for Interparliamentary Friendship were created. Issues connected with
strengthening of practical ties between the Parliaments, activization
of mutual visits in future were discussed. In that sense, Nabih Berri
attached importance to the role of the Lebanese Parliament MPs of the
Armenian origin, mentioning that, in general, the influnceable
Armenian community of Lebanon is a tying bridge between the two
countries. At the 2005 last p! arliamentary elections, 6 delegates of
the Armenian community, who represent the ARF (2 mandates), Liberal
Democratic Party and Social-Democratic “Hunchak” Party as well as AGBU
and the Catholic community, received deputy mandates. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, on the same day, V.Oskanian visited Aram I, Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia. Opinions were exchanged around issues
concerning the Armenians in the present world, around the Armenia-
Diaspora relations and prospects of the development of Armenia. His
Holiness presented his viewpoints and interpretations about the
developments of Lebanon. V.Oskanian informed Aram I about the present
social-economic state of Armenia, main directions of the foreign
policy of Armenia as well as the process of the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In the evening, a solemn ceremony dedicated
to the 50th anniversary of the Haykazian University was envisaged at
the BIEL Center of Beirut. The Haykazian educational institution was
founded in 1955, it acted as a college up to 1991. In 1992 the
institution was named Haykazian College University. In 1996, by a
decision of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education of Lebanon it
was renamed Haykazian University. That is the only higher education
institution in the reality of the Diaspora. At present, the four
faculties of the University annually give 650 graduates with about 40
specializations. Meetings with of the Lebanese Armenian party and
union heads and a visit to Armenian-populated district of Aynchar were
envisaged for the next day. V.Oskanian’s visit is widely covered by
the Lebanese press.

PRESS RELEASE
Naregatsi Art Institute
Vartanats 16/1
Yerevan, Armenia
Contacts: Seta Melkonian or Seta Iskandarian
email: [email protected]
SHUSHI’S TEENS WITH CAMERAS
The Naregatsi Art Institute at Vartanants 16/1 in Yerevan, Armenia is
proud to present the first photography exhibition by Shushi’s Teens
With Cameras on Friday July 22nd, 2005 at 7pm. Join us and meet the
eight teens who will come from Shushi for the event.
Shushi’s Teens With Cameras was created by Seta Iskandarian, an
American-Armenian volunteer with the Naregatsi Art Institute in
Shushi. Seta was born in Caracas, Venezuela and currently lives in
the Boston area. She has been living and teaching photography to the
teens in Shushi since April.
The photographs taken by the children are not merely examples of
remarkable observation and talent; they reflect something much larger,
morally encouraging, and even politically volatile: art as an
immensely liberating and empowering force.

Shushi’s Teens With Cameras’ Goals:
1 To empower marginalized teens in Shushi by giving
them a voice and form of creative expression through
the medium of photography.
2 To teach the international community about
Nakorno-Karabagh and the difficult circumstances these
teens live in.
3 To give Shushi’s teens an opportunity for a better
life through education.
“These teens are not like the teens we know back home. Their needs
are simple; food, shelter, warm clothes and heat in the winter and
most importantly an opportunity for a better education. They were
born during the Karabagh War (1989-1994) and their parents have faced
harsh circumstances to bring them into this world. Today, they are
growing up in a fragile peace where the uncertainties of life and
peace in their country are evident all around them. Unfortunately,
the reality is that the world outside the Armenian Diaspora does not
know of their problems,” said Seta Iskandarian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
July 1, 2005
ACNIS Releases Public Perceptions on Armenia’s Regional Role
Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today convened a policy roundtable on “The South Caucasus: Common or
Separate Destinies?” to issue the results of both a public survey and a
specialized questionnaire on “Armenia’s Place and Role in the Region”
conducted among 40 experts and 1500 citizens from Yerevan and all of Armenia
‘s regions. The meeting brought together policy analysts, experts, public
figures, academic circles, media and NGO representatives to discuss public
perceptions and expert views regarding the Caucasus, the spheres in which
Armenia might play a leading role among neighboring countries, and on the
whole the nation’s strengths and weaknesses, influences, and preferable
systems of security.
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian greeted the invited
guests and public participants with opening remarks. “The strategically
miscalculated, situational foreign policy that the administration pursues is
directly related with Armenia’s shortcomings in the domestic political,
socio-economic, and spiritual-cultural spheres. The country cannot be strong
and defend its own interests in the region as long as the gap between the
authorities and the people keeps growing.”
ACNIS analyst Syuzanna Barseghian focused in detail on the findings of the
opinion polls. Accordingly, 95.7% of the surveyed citizens and 97.5% of
experts hold that Armenia has issues of dispute with Azerbaijan, 94.4% and
97.5% respectively with Turkey, 62.2% and 67.5% with Georgia, even 19.9% and
15% with Iran and 18% and 47.5% with Russia. It is noteworthy that
approximately half of the specialists mention a problematic relationship
with Russia.
Of the three South Caucasus countries listed, which one enjoys the most
solid position in relative terms? 34.8% of polled citizens assert that
Armenia has the soundest position in domestic policy or democracy, 22.3%
note Georgia and 5.9%–Azerbaijan, whereas most experts maintain quite an
opposite view in this respect. 70% of them believe that Georgia is the
democratic leader of the region, whereas Armenia comes in ten times behind
the cradle of the “rose revolution” and Azerbaijan marks zero. 37% of
respondent citizens and 22.5% of experts find it difficult to answer.
In evaluating the strongest position in foreign policy, there is
considerable divergence in the viewpoints of the two groups. Only 31.2% of
citizens and 5% of experts offer a response in Armenia’s favor. An
overwhelming majority of experts, 77.5%, duly assess Georgia’s external
policy. In the case of Azerbaijan, the indices are 21.8% and 12.5%,
respectively. It is only in the economic domain that 29.8% of citizens and
60% of experts consider Azerbaijan to have the most advantageous position.
70.7% and 80% of the respective groups find that Armenia has earned the
leading place in defense matters. Both groups of respondents share the same
opinion regarding the arenas of education and science. 64.5% and 35%,
respectively, consider that sphere to be a priority issue for Armenia, 1.2%
and 5% for Azerbaijan, and 2.6% and 10% for Georgia. Both groups attach high
importance to culture in Armenia, though 33.4% of citizens and 40% of
experts find this area difficult to gauge.
The fourth item on the poll’s agenda was the leading role Armenia can play
in the region. 14.4 % and 12.5% of the responding groups believe that
Armenia has a greater role in comparison with Azerbaijan and Georgia in
terms of democracy, 22.6% and 40% in advanced technologies, 6.5% and 10% in
industry, 11.9% and 5% in agriculture, 25.2% and 5% in tourism, 4.7% and 10%
in the financial sector, and 9.9% and 12.5% in regional communications and
transportation.
Notwithstanding Armenia’s possible success in the aforementioned fields,
there still are factors by which other countries influence Armenia. Thus,
57% of each respondent category assert that the main such factor is the
Karabagh conflict, 13.3% and 11.8% point to the Russian military bases in
Armenia, while 20.5% and 21.9% note Armenia’s external debt, 26.9% and
24.9% its illegitimate authorities, 18.3% and 19.2% the violation of
democratic values, and 10.8% and 12% the Armenian nuclear power plant. The
public and expert dispositions are strikingly similar in this connection.
Amid the three countries of the South Caucasus, Russia has the most
influence upon Armenia, according to 58.9% and 85% of the responding groups,
with the United States garnering 11.3% and 12.5% and the European Union
17.4% and 0%. In Azerbaijan, Russian influence musters 12.7% and 10%,
American influence 40.9% and 57.5%, and European influence 15% and 5%.
Georgia provides a different picture. There the most influential power is
considered the United States by a vast majority of both citizens and
experts–67.3% and 95% respectively. In the opinion of 6.3% and 0% the most
influential is Russia, and 5.8% and 5% consider the EU.
On the cause-effect example of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the
poll participants deem variously that Armenia’s isolation would further
deepen (48.2% and 65%), the region’s stability and development would be
secured (9.6% and 10%), Azerbaijan would solve the Karabagh problem in its
favor (9.1% and 0%), and resumption of an Armenian-Azerbaijani war would be
ruled out (4.9% and 17.5%). If Armenia’s isolation really does deepen, then
the question of consolidating the country’s security system would
imperatively be begged. Is NATO the answer? In face of this choice, the
views of ordinary citizens and the expert pool differ somewhat. While 34.7%
of public respondents favor and 33.9% oppose Armenia’s membership in NATO,
the majority of experts (52.5%) supports such a move with 30% in
disagreement.
The next item on the day’s agenda was a policy intervention, entitled “The
Region within Old and New Geopolitical Strategies: A View from Armenia,” by
ACNIS research coordinator Stepan Safarian. Sharing his outlook for the
region in terms of possible political, economic, and demographic
developments, Safarian concluded: “No matter how unique or different or
competitive the histories of the people of the South Caucasus are, it is all
the same; in all the Euroatlantic strategies being carried out in the region
today, it is considered as one entity.”
This comment was followed by contributions by Liberal Progressive Party
official Edward Antinian, MP Alexan Karapetian, ACNIS analyst Alvard
Barkhoudarian, former minister of state Vahan Shirkhanian, Slavonic
University professor Rozalina Gabrielian, Heritage Party board member Hrach
Hakobian, International Center for Human Development executive director
Tevan Poghosian, Noyan Tapan News Agency analyst Davit Petrosian, Noravank
Foundation director Gagik Ter-Haroutiunian, and several others.
11.3% of the respondent citizens participating in the ACNIS poll are between
the ages of 16-20, 23.1% 21-30, 22.7% 31-40, 24.3% 41-50, 10.3% 51-60, 5.3%
61-70, and 2.3% are above 71 years of age. 46% of the respondents are male
and 54% female. 42.1% of them have higher education, 12.9% incomplete
higher, 20.4% specialized secondary, 21.5% secondary, and 3.1% have
incomplete secondary training. 57.2% are actively employed and 21.8% are
unemployed. 8.2% are pensioners and welfare recipients, while 12.2 % are
students. Urban residents constitute 61.6% of the citizens surveyed, while
rural residents make up 38.4%. 30.1% of all respondents hail from Yerevan
and the rest are from outside the capital city.
The primary occupation of 24.4% of those professionals who took part in the
specialized poll is journalism, with 12.3% each for history and law, 9.8%
each for political science, philology and physics, 4.8% each for economics
and international relations, and 2.4% each for construction engineering,
geography, and mathematics. 72.5% of the experts are male and 27.5% female.
17.2% are 20-30 years of age, 24.4% 31-40, 36.5% 41-50, 19.5% 51-60, while
2.4% are 61-70 years of age. 97.5% have received a higher education; 5.7% of
them are Doctors of Science (PhD), 14.3% hold a Candidate’s degree, 77.1% a
Master’s degree, and 2.9% only a Bachelor’s degree. All of them are from
Yerevan.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2005, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center or full graphics of the poll results,
call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; e-mail
[email protected] or [email protected]; or visit or
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
APRIL 24 COMMITTEE URGED DUTCH SENATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
02.07.2005 03:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 24 Committee for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, which forms part of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of
the Netherlands, has submitted an application to the Senate on June 28,
which urges the Parliament upper chamber to express attitude to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the course of World War I. The Dutch
House of Representatives has acknowledged the Armenian Genocide on December
21, 2004. The Government hailed the move as stated by Foreign minister
Bernard Bot. If the Senate adopts a statement on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the Government of the Netherlands will have an integrated stand
over the issue. The application also demands censuring Turkey’s denialist
policy. Europe should pay serious attention to the policy along with its
impact on the freedom of speech and national minority rights (as it is
known, these are part of the Copenhagen criteria), which should influence
the date of starting talks over Turkey’s accession to the EU, the document
authors are sure, Regnum news agency reported.

AZG Armenian Daily #121, 01/07/2005
Neighbors
‘RELOCATION OF RUSSIAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA IS
RUSSIA’S CONCERN’
Albright Visits Baku after Erdogan
According to Mediamax agency, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish PM, stated
in Baku that relocation of military equipment from Georgia to Armenia
is the inner concern of Russia. “Russia has the right. The issue of
relocating Russian military equipment doesn’t concern Turkey,” he said.
“As for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue, Turkey always
supported and will support Azerbaijan. Turkey is for settling the
conflict by means of dialogue but the settlement is connected with
returning the occupied territories,” Erdogan said.
Aliyev and Erdogan signed a joint statement, based on the results
of the negotiations that defines the primary directions for further
political, economic and cultural development. The Azeri and Turkish
mass media conditions the visit of Erdogan to Baku by democratic
processes within the country.
Turkish Daily News stated that “PM Erdogan’s visit to Baku before the
parliamentary elections is considered as a means to send a message
to Aliyev’s administration. Turkish government envisaged this visit
before the parliamentary elections, in order to avert the impression
that the visit was a sign of support to Aliyev’s administration.”
The Azeri press doesn’t exclude that the U.S. have given key role to
Turkey in the course of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan,
just like Washington did that in case of Poland during the days of
the revolution in Ukraine. Zerkalo stated that the leaders of three
leading parties Ali Kerimli, Isa Gambar and Sardar Jalaloghli visited
Turkey in quite a short period of time. “One can suppose that the
Turkish side has undertaken a mediator’s mission between the official
Baku and the opposition,” the newspaper wrote.
In general, if lately, the Turkish press doesn’t often mention the
friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Azeri press
sometimes displays obvious hostility concerning Turkey and the ruling
party of Islamists. Thus, on the eve of Erdogan’s visit to Baku,
some of the newspapers reminded of the failed coup d’etat in 1995,
when Turkish military circles participated in its organization.
By the way, Rino Harnish, U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, told the
journalists that in July Madlen Albright, former U.S. State Secretary,
is going to arrive in Azerbaijan. It’s wroth reminding that at present,
Mrs. Albright leads the American National Democratic Institute that is
also engaged in supporting revolution in the former Soviet republics.
Harnish stated that Albright will arrive to Baku to receive guarantees
from Ilham Aliyev that the parliamentary elections in November will
be free, transparent and just.
It is expected that President Aliyev will sign a decree on appointing
the day of the elections. Zerkalo called these elections the
most important in the history of Azerbaijan. On the other hand,
the commentator of the newspaper stated that notwithstanding the
external pressure carried out by the CE, the OSCE and the U.S., the
authorities made no serious concessions in the issue of appointing
members to the electoral committee in the new Electoral Code. The only
thing the opposition can do is to hold rallies after the elections,
which is something very common in the post-Soviet area recently.
Obviously, Azerbaijan is in the center of the international
communities’ attention. Ilham Aliyev receives definite hints saying
that if he doesn’t get rid of “the old guards” of the governing
system and doesn’t secure just elections, very serious challenges
are awaiting for him.
“Wall Street Journal” wrote in its July 17 issue that youth
organizations are created in Azerbaijan, as in Ukraine and Georgia that
play a key role in provoking “colored revolutions.” “Yokh,” students’
organization and “October 16 Movement” are already announcing about
the changes envisaged in autumn.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lithuania Backs Armenia’s Ambitions to Join EU, NATO
Agence France Presse
June 30 2005
VILNIUS
Lithuanian leaders on June 30 told a high-ranking delegation of
visitors from Armenia, led by Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, that
they would help Yerevan in its bid to join the European Union and NATO.
“We are prepared to share our experience with Armenia as you prepare
to join NATO and the EU,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas
said after meeting Margaryan.
“It took U.S. 10 years to become a member of NATO. I feel certain
Armenia will become a member more quickly,” he said.
Armenia, like Lithuania, is a former Soviet republic. The two became
independent in 1991.
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus assured Margaryan that Lithuania
“will always be a firm backer of Armenia as you undertake political
and economic reforms, and will encourage cooperation with the European
Union.”
The Armenian delegation, which arrived in Vilnius on June 30 and
includes the economy and finance ministers as well as a group of
businessmen, was due to meet with Lithuanian entrepreneurs and
government ministers before returning to Armenia on July 1.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE FINES FOR LAW VIOLATION MUST BE RAISED
A1plus
| 18:05:50 | 29-06-2005 | Social |
The open-air cafes of the Hrazdan canyon and the Round park, as
well as the restaurants «Now Dzoraberd» and «Urartu» on the Proshyan
street are the noisiest places in Yerevan. According to the Yerevan
municipality commerce and service department head Karen Gevorgyan,
one of the reasons of loud noise in the open-air cafes is that the
owners of the cafes are not aware of the allowed norms of music.
According to the RA Health Ministry anti epidemic inspectorate deputy
head Marietta Basilisyan, suchlike «objects» must be visited frequently
and they must be fined.
Today Municipality commerce and service department head Karen
Gevorgyan informed that a week ago they have visited 39 open-air
cafes in Yerevan. 16 of them have received preliminary warnings for
violation of music norms.
But according to Mr. Gevorgyan if they continue to violate the norms,
they will be fined for 30 000-50 000 drams. But still, according to
him, in order to solve the problem the fines must be raised up to
300 000 drams.
According to Mrs. Basilisyan, the violations of music norms do not
harm the health of the people very seriously, but the continuous loud
music can cause serious illnesses.
–Boundary_(ID_zDLZkImquRNzcMMDga+/+w)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri, Armenian ministers meet to discuss conflict settlement principles
Azadliq, Baku
26 Jun 05

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 26
June headlined “The Mammadyarov-Oskanyan duet is continuing” and
subheaded “The Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers meet”
The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Elman Mammadyarov and
Vardan Oskanyan, held an informal meeting at the international
conference on Iraq in Brussels.
Mammadyarov told journalists that during the meeting which lasted for
several hours, they discussed the components of the Warsaw agreement
reached by the two countries’ presidents on the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. He said that in Warsaw, the presidents
defined principles of solving the conflict.
“There are similar views on two principles now,” he said. He believes
that the ministers may meet again before the presidents’ meeting
scheduled for mid-August in Kazan [Russia].
There are no details of these two principles yet. Some reports suggest
that Azerbaijan is about to refrain from the “stage-by-stage solution”
it has been insisting on during the peace negotiations. This is
especially stressed by Armenian diplomatic circles.

Georgia: Ethnic Armenians demand withdrawal of special troops after shooting
Prime-News news agency
26 Jun 05
TBILISI
Residents of Tsalka District [district in southern Georgia with a
large ethnic Armenian population] are demanding the withdrawal of a
Georgian special detachment from the area. Some 100 people are
currently demonstrating in the centre of Tsalka [town] against the
forces’ presence.
The protests have been prompted by an incident in the village of
Ulianovka involving members of the special detachment and a local
resident, (?Nazarbyan).
According to the Interior Ministry, Nazarbyan and his companions
attempted to sell arms to members of the special detachment. When the
latter to decided to search his car, Nazarbyan disobeyed their
instructions and tried to flee. The troops responded by firing on the
car, wounding Nazarbyan in the shoulder. He was later taken to
Hospital No 1 in Tbilisi.
Local residents reject the official version of the incident and are
calling for the withdrawal of the special detachment, which was
deployed in the area several months ago in an attempt to put an end to
incidents between local ethnic Armenians and Georgians, who have
settled in the area from other parts of the country.