March 10, 2006 - 16:02 AMT
Armenians of Tsalka Hold Protest Action
The killing of 23-year-old Gevorg Gevorgyan in Tsalka aggravated the situation in the region. The roads leading from Tsalka to Armenian villages are blocked by Georgian military. On March 9 evening the police detained three suspects, who are being interrogated at present. Over 300 residents of Tsalka gathered today at the police building to hold a protest action. They demand a fair punishment for the murderers and broke some windows. The policemen batoned the protesting Armenians. According to Georgian parliament member Hayk Meltonyan, some 100 ralliers were beaten, reports A-info agency.

To remind, On March 9, at about 06:00 p.m. local time, in the city of Tsalka (regional center of Kvemo-Kartli Region, Georgia) an armed attack was held against a group of young ethnic Armenians. The attack was committed in the city's center, when the company departed from a restaurant. When they were getting into a car, unidentified people suddenly attacked them, dragged out of the car and started beating them. As witnesses and one of the victims said, there were about 15 attackers, some of them armed with cold steel. As a result of the attack, 23-year-old Gevorg Gevorkyan was injured with a knife and died at the scene. V. Saakyan, aged 25, was wounded in the leg. 25-year old K. Baloyan seven hours later was delivered to hospital in Tbilisi with a severe wound. After the attack the criminals escaped.