Catholicos Garegin II, now on a tour of Javakhk, has met with the parents of jailed Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan in the town of Akhalkalak.

The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church informed the parents that he has raised the issue of releasing the activist with Catholicos Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Chakhalyan has served 3 years of a ten year sentence after being found guilty of illegal weapons possession and related crimes by a Georgian court.

A petition signed by 1,200 Armenians of Javakhk was sent to Catholicos Garegin II before he began his visit to Georgia, requesting that the Armenian Church pontiff raise the issue with Georgian church and government officials.