The David Gareja Complex. Photo: Paata Vardanashvili from Tbilisi, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3529065

11 October 2019, 08:36

Georgian authorities announce partial opening of monasteries in disputed border section

On October 11, the monasteries of Udabno and Chichkhituri of the David Gareja Complex, closed because of the conflict with Azerbaijan, will open for Georgian clergymen. The Patriarchate has stated that it has the right of ownership on these monasteries.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Georgian-Azerbaijani border dispute escalated in April, when Azerbaijani border guards blocked the way for monks, pilgrims and tourists to the Udabno monastery. On October 6, Azerbaijan opened a new outpost in the vicinity of the monastery, named "Keshikchi Gala", the border guards of which were instructed to "protect the historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people."

The dispute over the David Gareja monastery complex, the most important cultural and religious attraction of Georgia, continues because of the incomplete demarcation of the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Political analysts and historians of Azerbaijani rule out the possibility of giving up the Azerbaijani part of the monastery complex.

The monasteries of Udabno and Chichkhituri, which are part of the David Gareja Complex, will be open for visiting on October 11, the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakhariya said today at a sitting of the government. "I want to say that from tomorrow the churches existing in the complex will open for the clergy," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has translated Mr Gakhariya's words pronounced by him on air of the "Mtavari Archi" Georgian TV Company.

The statement on the opening of the monasteries was made right after the official visit of Georgian Premier to Azerbaijan, where Gakhariya met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev. Before this, on October 1, the Georgian Patriarchate addressed the Prime Minister with an official letter. The church claimed ownership of the monasteries of Udabno and Chichkhituri.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 10, 2019 at 10:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Inna Kukudzhanova Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

March 28, 2024 22:19

  • Court extends arrest of blogger Alyona Agafonova

    Alyona Agafonova, a blogger from Samara, accused of desecrating a symbol of military glory because of her video filmed near the monument "The Motherland is Calling!" has been left in custody until June 19.

March 28, 2024 22:13

March 28, 2024 22:03

  • Attack on Crocus City Hall highlights issue of state assistance to victims of terror acts

    In Russia, the status of victims of terror acts should be legislated and state assistance should be guaranteed to them, human rights defenders claim after the terror act at the Crocus City Hall. According to the human rights defenders, the authorities still do not provide full-scale assistance to the victims of the terror act in Beslan and the militant attack on Nalchik.

March 27, 2024 16:51

March 27, 2024 14:49

News archive