One Dies in Clash, Rising Tensions in Multiethnic Tsalka

A clash which resulted into death of one and injury of at least one local resident in multiethnic town of Tsalka in Kvemo Kartli region on March 9, triggered protest of local ethnic Armenians.

Police said that five suspects have already been arrested. But protesters in Tsalka demanded lynching of suspects on March 10.

“The Interior Ministry will never allow actions of this kind,” the Georgian Interior Ministry stated on March 10.

The Interior Ministry said that only one local was injured, but according to the ethnic minority advocacy group Multinational Georgia four ethnic Armenians were wounded as a result of an attack.

According to this non-governmental organization about 500 residents of Tsalka were demanding at the rally outside the local police station on March 10 an immediate investigation and prosecution of those who are guilty of this crime. The protest rally was “brutally dispersed” by the police, according to the Multinational Georgia.

Clashes between the locals erupt sporadically in recent years in Tsalka district with population of 20 000. Ethnic Armenians comprise 57% of population, according to the Georgian department of statistics.  4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic Georgians and up to 2,000 Azerbaijanis also live there.