Unqualified workers damage ancient church in occupied Tskhinvali

Workers who earlier in the week were reported to have damaged frescoes in the Tiri Monastery in Georgia’s occupied territory of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) are now carrying out plastering works in another historical church in the breakaway region.

The Culture Ministry of the de facto South Ossetian Republic said the workers had switched to the Gomarti Church in the Znauri region to complete "restoration” works despite the Ministry’s ban on "unqualified” work being carried out in churches in the South Ossetian territory. 

The Ministry’s Monument Protection Department employee David Gobozov told Russian news agency Sputnik that the workers, from Uyut construction firm, had prepared necessary construction materials in advance and were proceeding with their work. 

The Tiri Monastery sits in the occupied territory near Tskhinvali (South Ossetia). Photo by Sputnik news agency/Dina Gassieva.

The news agency was also told by the Department’s head Nelli Tabuyeva "heavy equipment” including a tractor had been used to flatten the area around the church where "important” historical artefacts could have been damaged.

The de facto Republic’s Ministry said it was expecting restoration experts to arrive from Russia to assess the damage at the Tiri Monastery and provide further recommendations. 

Earlier this week Georgia’s National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation reacted to the reports that work had been carried out unlawfully at the Tiri Monastery, and notified relevant international organisations via the Ministry of Culture about the developments.