Patriarchate of Georgian Orthodox Church provides residence to refugees

In Georgia, the IDPs (internally displaced persons), who had been picketing the Ministry for Refugees' Matters and Accommodation for five months, have moved into the temporary residence provided to them by the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

"However, this does not mean that the protest action is over - we'll continue protesting while in Zion," Manuchar Sigua, head of the "Civil Movement of Refugees", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

As reported by refugees themselves, today envoys of Patriarch Elias II came up to their tents and offered the picketers to move into the premises of the Zion Cathedral in central Tbilisi.

"While the authorities neglect us, maybe the Lord will help. We are very grateful to Patriarch for giving us a chance to stop living in the street," said Gennady Kakuliya, deputy chairman of the "Civic Movement of Refugees".

"The fact that the Patriarchy was forced to intervene in the resettlement problem evidences a deep crisis of power," said Aleko Shalamberidze, head of the National Council of the People's Party. According to his story, the situation will only worsen, as the problem is not solved, and people should receive compensation for their lost homes.