“I think that the Georgian criminal policy doesn’t stand out for particular severity. Yes, there is a clearly defined criminal policy in terms of severe punishment against certain crimes,” Hovhannes Manukyan, the Armenian Ambassador to Georgia and a former President of the Armenian Supreme Court, said in response to Aravot’s observation that in Georgia, the Criminal Code is more severe and the court verdicts against our citizens were doubtful.
According to the ambassador, minor and major violations of the new Georgian Criminal Code’s provisions regarding struggle against corruption are assessed equally and those who commit such crimes are sentenced to a long term in prison. As a result, the number of convicts has doubled in the past few years increasing from 8000 to 20000. Crimes related to illicitly crossing the state border or crossing in inappropriate places, for which our citizens are often put in prison. However, these are separate cases of criminal policy, which are related to the country’s priorities at the given moment.
In response to our question, “As an Armenian Ambassador what measures have you taken to defend Vahagn Chakhalyan?” the ambassador said, “The problems of the Armenian community in Georgia, as well as our citizens living in the Samtskhe-Javakhk region, are always the focus of our attention whether it is the cultural, educational or any other field. However, we cannot and are not entitled to take action or steps in cases when the issue, particularly the criminal or legal case, concerns a concrete citizen of Georgia. In this case, your question is about the rights of a person who is of Armenian origin, but is a citizen of Georgia.
“I, as an ambassador, am entitled and must guarantee protection of the rights and legitimate interests of Armenian citizens. I want to assure you that we do that responsibly and do more than our resources allow us to do. Imagine, Armenian citizens cross the Armenian-Georgian border and appear in the neighboring country up to one million times every year.
“We deal with different kinds of incidents – traffic accidents, loss of papers and property, victims of crimes, victims of impassable roads and weather conditions. Recently we were
even compelled to coordinate the rescue operation to save a mountaineer, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.
“However, regardless of any difficulties, we have taken all measures and will continue taking all measures to show necessary support for Armenian citizens and to protect their rights.”
Ruzan MINASYAN
