Residents of Lanchkhuti District of Georgia oppose mosque in Nigvziani

The non-Muslim villagers of Nigvziani, Lanchkhuti District of Georgia, demand to close the mosque that operates in the house of Archil Kakhadze, a migrant from Adzharia. On November 2, they gathered near the house and demanded that Muslims, who are ecological refugees resettled from Adzharia in 2006 after a landslide, stopped their prayers.

"We gave them (the Muslims, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") a week's term, and they have to decide what to do. We told them that the locals would not allow any minarets and mass prayers in this village. This is a serious problem," said the deacon Saba Zhgenti, the rector of the church of St George in the village of Shuguti.

Beka Mindiashvili, an employee of the Office of the Georgian Ombudsperson, went to Nigvziani to prevent the conflict and hold negotiations between members of the Christian and Muslim communities.

Reisan Gogitidze, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Georgia, has assured that at present there is no threat of conflict in the village.

"Indeed, there was an acute conflict situation; however, Nigvziani was visited by officials of our Patriarchate and SAM representatives; so that by the time the situation is settled," Reisan Gogitidze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We intend to hold prayers, and run consultations and negotiations with the local population as well as with the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church and Georgian authorities in compliance with the current law," said the head of the SAM.