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Armenians in Georgia are ethnic Armenians living within the current Republic of Georgia. Armenians are the largest ethnic minority in Georgia at about 6% of the population. The Armenian community is mostly concentrated in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which borders the Republic of Armenia to the south. Ethnic Armenians are the majority in the region, making up about 54% of the population[1], which they share with Georgians,Pontian Greeks and Ossetians.
[edit] Anti-Armenianism in Georgia
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- See also: Anti-Armenianism#Anti-Armenianism_in_Georgia
Some Armenians believe they are victims of a policy to shift the Samtskhe-Javakheti region’s demographic balance as a number of Georgian families were settled there.[2]. Armenians are also underrepresented in the government (holding 5 seats in the 235-member Parliament[2], for example), leading to the perception of discrimination and mutual distrust [3]. There were several protests, some of which turned violent after clashes with law enforcement agents.[2]. The Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia also has a significant population of Armenians, where they make up roughly 20% of the population.[4] However, the de facto Abkhaz authorities have been accused by local Armenian NGOs of intentionally decreasing the number of Abkhazian-Armenians.[5]
[edit] Integration into the Georgian society
One of the biggest problems of the Armenians in Georgia is the is the inability to use their language in public life. The government’s new language policies are a source of strong resentment and it is accused of abolishing minorities’ former rights to use Armenian or Russian and thus limiting access to jobs and education.[2] President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan has urged ethnic Armenians to learn the Georgian language, which he said is essential for their integration into the Georgian society.[6]
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Armenians in this region of Georgia should think about learning Georgian instead of how they could replace it with Armenian. Without the knowledge of Georgian Armenians in Georgia will not be able to seek senior and high government position and can not run successful businesses. |
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The local Armenian United Javakhk Democratic Alliance has proposed a local autonomy for Javakheti within Georgia.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and South Caucasus natural gas pipeline which passed through the region, has met opposition from local Armenians, as well as the planned Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway as it isolates Armenia[7][8].
[edit] Architecture
Armenians left rich architectural imprint in Georgia, especially in Tbilisi, which was at a time a center of Armenian culture. On the main avenue in Tbilisi - Rustaveli Avenue, there is a building of a wealthy Armenian Melik-Azaryants.
House of Melik-Azaryants in Tbilisi
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 2002 Georgia census results
- ^ a b c d Georgia’s Armenian and Azeri Minorities, 22 November 2006 (free registration needed to view the full report)
- ^ http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ICG/a839b86ed70730cc9b32cbd9a898fc90.htm
- ^ 2003 Census statistics (Russian)
- ^ The authorities in Abkhazia intentionally decrease the number of Armenians. Public Radio of Armenia. February 2, 2006.
- ^ Armenia: Kocharian urges Armenians in Georgia to learn Georgian. Caucaz Europenews. May 1, 2007.
- ^ France, Armenia and the unbearable attraction of Turcophobic politics
- ^ Rovshan Ismayilov, “Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey: Building a Transportation Triumvirate?” Eurasia Insight, February 2 2007. (quoted from China’s Relations with Azerbaijan by Fariz Ismailzade, China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly, Volume 5, No. 1 (2007) p. 29-34 © Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program ISSN: 1653-4212
