The Assyrian Democratic Organization
On July 27, 2006, Boris Ivanov, a legendary Assyrian General who was also a former chief of Criminal and Military Police of Tbilisi was arrested.
Mr. Ivanov dedicated his whole professional life working for Georgian Police. He was the head of Police Department of Tbilisi for many years. At the pinnacle of his career Mr. Ivanov became a General.
For the past 12 years Mr. Ivanov lived and worked in Moscow, Russia. For the past three years Mr. Ivanov has been retired. He came to Tbilisi for a family reunion because his sister and brother came from a different country.
On the day of the arrest about 50 armed persons entered his house by force.
While some shackled his hands, others put some drugs in the pocket of his shirt. There are also some witnesses (neighbors) who saw everything. It seems that they put the drug in his pocket to justify his arrest. The arrest was a clear violation of human rights. It lacked due process and criminal procedure.
Boris Ivanov is a very famous person in the former Soviet Union. He was the founder and the first President of the Assyrian International Congress of Georgia. He was an only General among Assyrian people living in former Soviet Union. He was very popular not only among Assyrians but also among other nationalities living in Georgia. During many years of his service to Georgia, Boris Ivanov showed his professionalism and served for well-being of Georgian society. Now the Georgian police took him as a criminal. Is this the just showing of gratitude for all his service?
The injustice that Mr. Ivanov recently experienced is so fundamental that it shook consciences of all people living in Georgia regardless of ethnicity.
Assyrians in different countries started activities to support Mr. Ivanov. During the first week of Mr. Ivanov’s arrest, the Assyrians of Georgia organized two meetings to protest his arrest and to show their solidarity to Ivanov. The Assyrian International Congress of Georgia wrote a letter to the President of Georgia to support its leader. Last Friday (4th August) Assyrians of Moscow organized a meeting in front of the Georgian Embassy. The organizers of the meeting were Assyrian Association “Khayadta” and Youth Association “Laymuta”. Boris Ivanov was the member of “Khayadta”, as well.
Mr. Sheba Mando, the President of the Assyrian National Council of Illinois was the first who sent the letter to the President of Georgia to support Boris Ivanov. The next letter was written by Senator John Nimrod, the President of the Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation and the former Secretary General of AUA. There are also letters from the AUA and from the Assyrian Association”Khayadta”. Several websites throw light upon this issue.
The website of www.atranews.com declared August as a month of release of Boris Ivanov.
The last days showed that Assyria is still alive and far away from being destroyed because Assyria thrives in the passionate hearts of all Assyrians. Assyrians are unique because with all our weaknesses and defaults in difficult time Assyrians help each other. And, it is exactly this quality that keeps Assyrians alive.
PS: If you want to help Mr. Boris Ivanov, please write an official letter to the President of Georgia and send copies to the Parliament of Georgia and some relevant international organizations.
Please send also a copy to the Assyrian International Congress of Georgia to assyrgeo@yahoo.com
If you want to put your signature for Boris Ivanov’s release, you can send it by E-mail: atra@atranews.com
We need your first and last names, telephone number, mailing address. Only your name, your city and country will be published.
Thank you for your support!
