Villagers in Djiliza, Chanakhchi, Akhkyorpi and about 7 other Armenian villages have found themselves cut from relatives and vital roads following the reckless demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian border.
Students of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) Rousan Safaryan and Sona Kocharyan have talked to some of the villages and prepared this very interesting 10-minute documentary.
Artur Papyan
Journalist, blogger, digital security and media consultant
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Years ago there was a criticism in Haykakan Zhamanak of Kocharian’s plan to dig a trench to reduce smuggling of products, far inside the Armenian territory because of the danger that the trench would eventually become the official border. No one paid attention to that.
While we fought a war to redefine the border with Azerbaijan, we do not take the border with Georgia seriously. I advocate open borders but you need to know where the line is.
Clear borders make good neighbors.
I meant to write “clear and reasonable” borders. The villagers are facing a crazy discomfort and there should be a give and take to make their lives reasonable.
The Armenian authorities claim that they’re ready to operate the crossing point between the two villages, but the Georgian side is delaying the process.
Hetq.am covered the story last year, but I don’t seem to be able to find the link.