Others say closing the base will hurt the local economy. The Russian base is the largest single employer in the Javakhetian town of Akhalkalaki, where the base is located. Of course not. He hasn't even paid our pensions for eight, nine, or ten months. Javakhetia is one of the least developed parts of Georgia.
Economic development is thwarted, among other things, by severe power shortages.
The region has electricity only a few hours a week, usually after midnight. The Armenian government has attempted to help by laying a high-voltage line into Javakhetia at its own expense. But the two countries must still work out all the conditions of the program. Local leaders in Akhalkalaki are threatening to hold protest actions if the situation does not improve by the end of the month. Armenian authorities in Yerevan have in the past restrained the Javakhetia Armenians from an open confrontation with the Georgian government.