Detailed Review on Samtskhe-Javakheti

So called “separatism problem” in SJ could be subdivided on three main trends:

1. COLLABORATIONISM – mostly related with the issue of Russian military base in Akhalkalaki (before withdrawal), and also another issues directly related with foreign interests and opposed to those of Georgia.
2. SEPARATISM AS SUCH - understood as detaching Javakheti from Georgia by means of either independence or merging with Armenia.
3. SELF-DETERMINATION – with its multiple trends like demands for autonomy, granting official regional status to Armenian language, “Church question”, including Armenian history classes in the schools, etc.

It should be said also, that SJ ethnic Armenians do not attach their identity to solely SJ. Rather, there is general problem with Armenian minority in Georgia and SJ has been most visible due to two reasons, being (1) large concentration of ethnic Armenians in the region (over 90% in Javakheti and about 55% in SJ total) and the location of the region (border with Armenia and Turkey, and the route for BTC). There have been events during these years when an accident in Tsalka (not in SJ) or Tbilisi have triggered problems in SJ. Russian and Armenian interests, Russian intimidation and Armenian meddling – all of these have served as triggers to escalate tensions in SJ.

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