Ivanishvili: releasing Vahagn Chakhalyan under consideration

YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. The issue of releasing Vahagn Chakhalyan (Armenian activist of Georgia’s Javakh with prevailing Armenian population) from Georgian prison is currently under consideration, Georgian Prime-Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said at his meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin the II Thursday.

The statement was made by Ivanishvili in response to Catholicos’ intersession for Chakhalyan’s release. On January 13, after the law about amnesty came into force, some 300 prisoners were released, but Chakhalyan was not among them.

The released prisoners had been convicted for espionage in favor of Russia and overthrow attempts.

Advocate of Chakhalyan Stepan Voskanyan said that Chakhalyan’s name was removed from the list just before the amnesty. He also said that they are currently looking into why Chakhalyan was not pardoned, and will apply to the court after that.

Vahagn Chakhalyan has been a well-known political activist of Javakhk. He was arrested in his house on July 21, 2008. The court of Akhaltsikhe found him guilty in purchasing and storing arms and armament, organizing mass events that disturb the public peace, and etc. On April 7, 2009 he was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Some human rights organizations believe the charges against Chakhalyan were fabricated.

Javakh is located at the intersection of Georgia, Armenia and Turkey and the absolute majority of its population are Armenians. According to estimates, 91-97% of Georgian Armenians live in Javakh.–0--