Clerics say Azerbaijani border guards opened a tent in David Gareji, are doubled in number

Archimandrite Kirion says that Azerbaijani border guards have opened a tent on the territory of Georgia’s 6th century monastery complex David Gareji, which is located at the conditional border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

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The cleric cites Azerbaijani border guards as saying that the tent is “a temporary measure and will be removed as the situation becomes stable.”

The number of Azerbaijani border guards have been doubled and tourists and clerics are still not allowed to enter the Udabno Monastery,” Kirion says.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry reports that a special commission composed of Georgian and Azerbaijani officials is working to settle the border issue.

The ministry has urged the public several times to allow the commission work in a calm environment.

Deputy Foreign  Minister Lasha Darsalia says that the number of Georgian border guards has also be increased after the incident on June 14,  when, as clerics say, Azerbaijani border guards took out icons from the Udabno Monastery which triggered tension.

Archimadrite Kirion urges for settling the David Gareji issue as soon as possible. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.

Darsalia says that the number of Georgian and Azerbaijani border guards will remain increased until the situation returns to the previous condition. 

He says that experts will be involved in the meeting of the border demarcation commission at the August 19-23 meeting. 

Georgian President's Spokesperson Khatia Moistsrapishvili stated earlier today that Georgia and Azerbaijan should have an agreed border and the commission should be given an opportunity to work calmly. 

We have no illusion that the border issues will be settled in several days," Moistsrapishvili said.  

In April 2019, Azerbaijani borders guards did not allow visitors and clerics into the section of the David Gareji, including the Udabno Monastery.

The ban was removed in several days after the involvement of officials from both sides.

David Gareji is a complex of 22 rock-hewn monasteries and more than 5,000 cells and cave-cells, located in Georgia’s south-east.

Georgia and Azerbaijani have not has not been agreed on the state border since the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991.

The Georgian-Azerbaijani commission working on the demarcation of the state border has met several times. 

The Georgian Church has urged clerics and the public to allow the commission work calmly, saying that the David Gareji complex is one of the most precious historic inheritance of Georgia and it must be inside the country.