Georgian patriarchate says Russian account of Abkhazia, Tskhinvali regions ‘deepen conflict’
Anti-occupation demonstrations, that were triggered by Russian MPs visit to Tbilisi, are still underway in the country. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian Patriarchate said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent explanation of how Georgia “engulfed” the currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions “has caused a negative reaction among our people”.
Such distortion of historic facts continues to deepen the existing conflicts”, the Patriarchate said in its yesterday’s statement.
The Georgian Orthodox Church believes this should become “a challenge” to Georgian government, scientists and every citizen to spread the word about the Georgian history in English, Russian and other foreign languages to the rets of the world.
The Patriarchate expressed its willingness to contribute to organising conferences and meetings aimed to discuss “historic realities”.
The Georgian Government said the Russian account of hstory is biased. Photo: Kremlin.ru
Speaking with the Russian media earlier this week, Vladimir Putin said that South Ossetia joined the Russian Empire in the 18th century, while Abkhazia became a part of it in 1810.
Putin also said that “if the current Georgian authorities want to improve the relations with Abkhaz and South Ossetian people.”
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said in response to Putin's account that “it is not the first time when Russia tries to fake history.”
- Russia recognised the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) as independent states after the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
- As of today only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have recognised the regions as independent states.
- The rest of the international community says that Abkhazia and Tskhinvali are integral parts of Georgia and that currently they are occupied by Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to ensure all possible support for the “national security” of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region in his letter sent to de facto president of the region Raul Khajimba, Russian new agency RIA Novosti reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to allocate funds for the “modernisation” of the armed forces of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia region, Russian media RIA Novosti reports. RIA Novosti reads that earlier Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and “his Abkhaz counterpart” Merab Kishmaria agreed on the development of military-technical cooperation and the modernisation of the ‘Abkhaz army.’
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkalinai says that Georgia is proud of its centuries-long tolerance to various religious minorities living in the country, stating that Russia harshly violates religious rights and freedom of the Georgian citizens living in the currently occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that no question marks must remain regarding the June 20 rally dispersal in Tbilisi, which came after groups of demonstrators tried to storm the parliament building.
Acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elizabeth Rood says that Georgia is a safe country and Russia should remove the ban on direct flights to Georgia, which came into force on July 8.
Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the President of European Council Donald Tusk who said the collapse of the Soviet Union was “a blessing" to Georgians, Poles, Ukrainians and the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, and also to Russians.
“When I say Georgia, I mean freedom, when I say Georgia, I mean pride, when I say Georgia, I mean courage. You are a small country, but a great nation. You have achieved impossible things, because you were, despite all the differences, united around a common goal, that was a free, independent and modern state,” Tusk stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered his own explanation of how Georgia “engulfed” the currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
The Georgian Orthodox Church has called "unacceptable" plans of the Patriarchate of Moscow to launch a Georgian parish in Paris under its wings, with a letter outlining the Georgian religious organisation's position on the subject released on Wednesday.
Worship in churches of Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia has been temporarily suspended until the status of the Abkhaz Orthodox Church has been determined, however the churches remain open to parishioners, the head of the Abkhaz Orthodox Church Father Vissarion (Aplia) said on the air of Abkhaz television, reports Russian media outlet Ria Novosti.