A citizens’ group “Protect David Garedji” held a procession in Tbilisi

On May, 20, a citizens’ group “Protect David Garedji” organized a procession in Tbilisi. Several thousand citizens, generally young people, took part in the action marching from Vake park to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Suspense of the question of Georgian-Azerbaijani border demarcation touches upon one of the greatest cultural and religious sites of Georgia, i.e. “David Garedji” monastery complex located in 60 kilometers distance to the South-East of Tbilisi. St. David Laura located on the Northern slope of the mountain separating Georgia and Azerbaijan is considered the main monastery. Part of the monastery has been occupied by Azerbaijani border guards for already over a week.

According to the organizers and participants of the procession, it was deployment of Azerbaijani border guards in the territory of the monastery complex that became the reason for holding the action.

“The Government of Georgia must make public the shorthand records and protocols of negotiation on “David Garedji” complex till May, 31, for the process of delimitation-demarcation of Georgian-Azerbaijani border to become transparent for the citizens”, participants of the action near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia declared.

The activists also demanded to produce a detailed information to the community on whether the Azerbaijani party had any pretensions to Chichkhatury monastery, too, “Georgia-Online” reports.

The cave monastery complex “David Garedji” begins in 60 kilometers distance to the South-East of Tbilisi and stretches for about 60 more kilometers. St. David Laura founded in the middle of VI century by Reverend Father David Garedji after whom the whole complex was named is considered the main monastery. There are currently four functioning monasteries in “Garedji” monastery complex.