World SAE President Andrew A. Athens has launched an international campaign appealing to world opinion and political leaders to help halt the terrorist actions that threaten extermination of Diaspora Hellenes in the district of Tsalka, Republic of Georgia.

In statements to the UN, EU and American and Hellenic leaders and human rights organizations, Mr. Athens described incidences against the Tsalka Hellenic community which began sporadically about seven years ago but have taken the nature of a campaign of terror within the past year. Such activities by armed gangs include organized murders, robberies and torching of properties. In addition, more than 2,000 homes and properties owned by Georgian Hellenes have been illegally taken over by squatters who refuse to leave. 

Earlier this month, among the homes invaded by a gang of 10 armed terrorists was that of Michael Tourmoliev who was tortured and killed and his wife and handicapped son were beaten and left for dead. Mrs. Tourmoliev is a nurse at SAEοΏ½s Hippocrates Medical Center in Tbilisi, GeorgiaοΏ½s capital. The Medical Center provides free health care to all citizens.

οΏ½The police and other Georgian authorities have stood by without any effective action against this lawlessness and terror,οΏ½ Mr. Athens said. οΏ½There are more than 25 villages with large Hellenic populations in Tsalka, an area that has peacefully been populated by Hellenes for centuries. Very often, the armed bands only put fire to crops which is another indication that their purpose is to terrorize the families and force them to abandon their homes. Some of the families have already left Georgia in search of work and better living conditions and are in Russia, Greece and Cyprus.

οΏ½The Ambassador of Greece to Georgia, Konstantina Mavroskelidou, has demonstrated active interest and is pursuing diplomatic venues,οΏ½ according to Mr. Athens. οΏ½But unless world opinion is awakened, we are going to be witnessing the systematic extermination of Hellenes and their historic communities in this part of the world. Hellenes in the Diaspora will not stand by idle while such barbarism is allowed to prevail.οΏ½

Two main demands are made by Mr. Athens in his appeals to the President of Georgia, Michael Saakashvili, and to political leaders worldwide: One is that Georgia should establish immediately an active commission that includes leaders of the Hellenic community to review the homes taken illegally. The second is for immediate effective police protection to the villages in Tsalka.

οΏ½The concern shown by Mr. Athens and the efforts he has consistently made to support Diaspora Hellenes are touching this community deeply and we are very grateful,οΏ½ said Kyriakos Iordanidis, President of the Federation of Hellenic communities in Georgia.

Almost immediate responses to the appeals have been reported by political leaders worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the U.S., and Georgia. 

State Representative Demetrios Giannaros, of Connecticut, president of the World Inter-Parliamentary Hellenic Association, issued an appeal to members of his group which consists of elected officials around the world.

Australian Parliament Member in Sydney, George Souris, stated: οΏ½It is terrible irony that during the recent Rugby World Cup staged in Australia we all cheered the fledging rugby players from Georgia who put in very credible performances against the established rugby powersοΏ½I will make a speech in our Parliament over the next couple of weeks and I will write making representations, enclosing (your) disturbing letter, to the Georgian Diplomatic mission in Australia.οΏ½

Canadian Parliament member Jim Karygiannis who will make appeals in Canada proposed personal visits to Georgia οΏ½to ask the hard questions on behalf of HellenesοΏ½ and to raise interest among GeorgiaοΏ½s donor countries, such as U.S. and Canada.

Father Demetrios Recachinas, of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut, stated in his appeal to members of the U.S. Congress: οΏ½It is of my concern and the concern of my parishioners on (these) atrocities taking placeοΏ½Steps must be taken to protect this group of people and I am pleading for you to look into this matter immediately for the mercy of the Hellenes living in a community terrorized dailyοΏ½οΏ½

U.S. Senators Paul Sarbanes, of Maryland, and Olympia Snowe, of Maine, have made presentations and issued appeals which will be made public later this week.

The U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Richard Miles, has invited Kyriakos Iordanidis to meet with him to assess the situation and proposed remedies that should be followed.