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Javakhk Armenians Block Bavra Border Crossing; Demand Meeting with Armenian Officials on Military Service Issue

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By Kristine Aghalaryan

15 Javakhk Armenians detained and questioned about military service in Armenia

A group of young Armenian men from the Georgian region of Javakheti (Javakhk), staged a demonstration at the Armenian-Georgian Bavra border crossing this morning and demanded a meeting with Armenian government officials to clarify certain aspects of the mandatory army service.

The issue arose, according to demonstrator Andranik Karslyan, on November 25 when a number of Javakhk Armenians, with either dual Armenian/Georgian citizenship or just Armenian citizenship, were detained upon returning from seasonal work in Russia and their military service records investigated.

Karslyan told Hetq that the men were threatened with five years of prison if it turns out they haven’t served in the Armenian army for the required two years.

“They say that guys either have to serve two years or else spend five years in prison. This is a big issue because it involves some 70-80% of those living in Javakhk who have received Armenian citizenship. We are asking for the government’s help because there are people who have left for seasonal work in Russia and are now afraid to return and be destined to the same fate as the current fifteen,” Karslyan says.

Hetq tried to contact Mnatsakan Bichakhchanyan, who heads Armenia’s Department of Passports and Visas for clarification. He responded that it was a military matter and advised us to contact the Ministry of Defense.

Investigative Committee Press Spokesperson Naira Harutyunyan told Hetq that people were being arrested at the border based on Article 327 of Armenia’s Criminal Code (Evading Military Service).

The demonstrators cleared the highway after receiving assurances that they would meet with Armenian government officials tomorrow.

Nikol Pashinyan promises Javakhk-Armenians to raise Armenian-Georgian relations to new level Video

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YEREVAN, MAY 31, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, who is in Georgia on an official visit, held meetings with the residents of a number of Armenian-populated communities in Javakhk.

ARMENPRESS reports the Armenian PM was met with great enthusiasm in all the communities. Pashinyan gave speeches everywhere, touching upon mainly the Armenian-Georgian relations, underlining the importance of deepening them further and raising them to a new level.

“I had a very productive visit to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi and this is not by accident that I paid my first official visit to Georgia. This underlines the importance and special significance of Armenian-Georgian relations. I am confident that as a result of this visit Armenian-Georgian relations will undergo major improvements.

And for achieving these changes I offer a very simple formula. Georgia and the Georgian people must be convinced that there is no conspiracy in the actions of Armenia and the Armenian people, or provocation against the Georgian people and Georgia, while the Armenian people and Armenia must be convinced that there is no conspiracy or provocations against the Armenian people and Armenia in the actions of the Georgian people. This is the ground based on which we must achieve a totally new level of Armenian-Georgian relations. And I am confident that in the context of these relations all the social-economic problems existing in the Armenian-populated areas of Georgia should be solved,” Pashinyan said in the meeting with Ayazma village residents, adding that everyone should make serious efforts to reach that goal.

In the meeting with the residents of Satkhe village the Armenian PM expressed confidence that after his official visit to Georgia a new page of Armenian-Georgian relations will be opened. “I consider the most important result of my visit the fact that personal warm relations have been established between me and the Georgian PM and I am convinced that in the person of the Georgian Prime Minister the Armenian people have a very good friend who will spare no efforts to deepen Armenian-Georgian friendship”.

PM Pashinyan has already reached Akhalkalaki, where he will meet with the Armenian community as well and will participate in the opening of an engineering laboratory.