Officials confirm damage to Georgian Tiri monastery in occupied territory

Georgia's Ministry of Culture has reacted to recent cases of "uncontrolled” activity at the Tiri Monastery, confirming "damage” has been caused to frescoes of the Georgian cultural heritage site., which is located in the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) area.

The Ministry said the plastering activity – reported on July 11 - had damaged frescoes at the Monastery, located five kilometers from the breakaway region's capital Tskhinvali.

Results of the defacing work, said to have occurred without the knowledge of the de-facto South Ossetian Republic Ministry of Culture and the local eparchy, were now due for assessment and monitoring by "Georgian or international” experts, while Georgia’s Foreign Ministry and State Minister for Reconciliation were also informed about the developments.

The Tiri Monastery features fragments of 15th Century frescoes and Georgian inscriptions.

Georgia's Ministry of Culture said uncontrolled activities had recently taken place at other sites of cultural heritage including those located in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.