Georgian Patriarchate requests UNESCO monitoring in Abkhazia

Georgian authorities should agree with Russia on holding a UNESCO monitoring in Abkhazia to prevent the destruction of historical monuments. This was stated by the Georgian Patriarchate in its comment on the construction works underway near the church in the village of Tsebelda.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January, in the village of Tsebelda (Tsabal), the Gulrypsh District of Abkhazia, the 19th century church and the Polish cemetery were demolished during the construction of a military training range. The President of Georgia has accused Russia of vandalism; however, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the MoD of Abkhazia responded that there were no works in the vicinity of Tsebelda.

However, on January 13 Batal Kobakhiya, the Deputy Minister for Culture and Protection of Historical and Cultural Heritage of Abkhazia, said that some works had really taken place in the vicinity of the village.

He added that the officer, who was in command of the construction works, received a disciplinary punishment, the "Sputnik-Abkhazia" reports.

The Frontier Guard Service of the Russian FSB has also denied its involvement in the works in Tsebelda.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.