Information on the treatment of ethnic Armenians [GGA12440]

According to Soyuz, No. 32, August 1990, out of the total population of the then Georgian SSR (5,443,000), Armenians account for 437,000 (IRBDC Oct. 1991, 91).


According to a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE\RL) in Munich, the situation of ethnic minorities in Georgia has improved since Shevardnadze came to power (10 Dec. 1992). The correspondent stated that there is tension between Armenian and Georgian populations; however, this tension does not amount to discrimination (Ibid.).

An official with the Helsinki Commission, who visited Georgia in June and October 1992, stated in a telephone interview with the DIRB on 10 December 1992 that Armenians in Abkhazia have complained of beatings, abductions, extortion, and confiscation and theft of property. However, Abkhazia is in a state of war, and residents of other national origins have also registered similar complaints (Ibid.).

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1991 reports that "[i]n Georgia many ethnic groups complained of de facto discrimination in housing and employment" (1992, 1287).

Additional and/or corroborative information on this subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

References

Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1991. 1992. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

Helsinki Commission, Washington, D.C. 10 December 1992. Telephone Interview with Official.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. October 1991. USSR: Country Profile.

Radio Free Europe\Radio Liberty (RFE\RL), Munich. 10 December 1992. Telephone Interview with Correspondent.

Attachment

Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1991. 1992. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 1287.