Armenians of Javakheti

More than 90% of the inhabitants of Javakheti (Georgian name) or Djavakhq (Armenian name) are ethnic Armenians. Other than in the capital of Georgia with its large and well integrated minority population of Armenians, it remains to be an interesting question to what extent the State of Georgia will be able to integrate Javakhetian Armenians into Georgian society. The older people often speak no Georgian at all while the young generation learns Georgian as a second language in school.

My short impression is that nowadays economy has become more important to Javakhetians than autonomy. Lukily both governments share the same interest in peaceful solutions and have therefore acted responsibly.

Village scene with Armenian flag.

Akhalkalaki: Monument dedicated to the father of the Armenian alphabet Mesrop Mashtots  *361 - † 440

Looking at the sign of a Georgian Police headquarters at Akhalkalaki, I wonder how helpful Georgian and English language (only) inscriptions may seem to the ethnic Armenian population. Armenian still isn't official language. 

During the Soviet period, street signs of Akhalkalaki were written in Georgian, Armenian and Russian:

(All photos with Sony a850 + Minolta 28-135mm, summer 2012)

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