Representatives of the opposition in Georgia are picketing a firing ground near David Garegi monastery

The youth organization of the “Georgian Party” started an action of protest demanding to pull down the firing ground near the monastery complex “David Garegi”. Officials of the Georgian Ministry of Defense declared that the firing ground constituted no danger for the historical memorial.

The oppositional activists protest against military exercises near the complex “David Garegi” stating that they will have a negative impact on the state of the memorial. It had been formerly reported that the action was palled in the settlement of Giorgitsminda, Sagarejoy district (Kakheti district of Eastern Georgia).

According to Levan Gachechiladze, co-chairperson of the “Georgian Party” and ex- candidate for the Presidency, over 100 members of the movement made for the scene in an organized way, “Caucasia” TV-company reports. “Anti-Soviet movement in Georgia had also started with actions against military exercises at this firing ground and we will come forward against the present-day authorities in just the same way”, he declared.

Officials of the Georgian Ministry of Defense do not think the military exercises near the monastery complex “David Garegi” is of any danger for the historical memorial. “The area near “David Garegi” is not used for military exercises, there is just a military base for training reservists there”, IA “Novosti-Georgia” quotes a representative of the Ministry of Defense.

According to our source, there is a vast space between the base for training reservists and the firing ground and “artillery or any kind of techniques which might be injurious to the complex by sonic vibration or in any other way are not used in the process of training reservists”.

“Caucasian Knot” has already reported that the future of the complex “David Garegi” had become a matter at issue between Azerbaijan and Georgia within the process of demarcation and delimitation of the borders. The monastery complex is located just in the disputed territory.