Armenians of France Demand Release of Javakhk-Armenian Activist
[ 2009/04/15 | 10:44 ]
Jean Eckian / Paris,Freelance Journalist
On April 14, a crowd of about one hundred Armenians gathered in front of the Georgian Embassy in Paris to demand the release of Vahagn Chakhalyan, the leader of the United Javakhk movement, who is being subjected to political persecution by the Georgian authorities.
On April 7, Mr. Chakhalyan was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for “possession of weapons, deterioration of official buildings and participation in a prohibited demonstration.”
Representatives of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations in France (CCAF), Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian of FRA Dashnaksiutun were received by the Ambassador of Georgia, Mr. Mamuka Kudava.
The French Armenian community representatives presented Ambassador Kudava the formal complaints of the French organizations. They pointed out the fact that, according to the Yerkir Union, Chakhalyan was not in possession of any weapon in his home. Moreover, the lawsuit had not been justified and the proceedings were not transparent. Therefore, they urged the immediate release of Mr. Chakhalyan.
The Georgian ambassador registered the demands of the protestors, assuring them that they would be transmitted to Tbilisi. Ambassador Kudava also stressed that the procedure would follow its course since Chakhalyan had lodged an appeal.
Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian then asked that French lawyers work for the defense of the leader of United Javakhk.
