Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch expresses belief of reintegration of occupied regions in 2008 war anniversary message

Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Church, on Tuesday said the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions were “our indigenous land and an integral part” of the country, in remarks for the 15th anniversary of the 2008 invasion of Georgia by Russia and the war between the two states.

The religious leader expressed his belief that “our homeland will definitely restore its territorial integrity”, but warned the objective could not be achieved with “discord, spite, mutual enmity and lies”, and called on the public to “think about this”.

Fifteen years have passed since the August war, after which [...] more than 20 percent of the territory of Georgia was occupied by Russia. We have repeatedly announced at the international level, and I will repeat again, that both the Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia are our indigenous land and an integral part”, the message of the Patriarch said.

He also stressed the Orthodox Church offered prayers at its every service for both the restoration of territorial integrity of the country and the “spiritual unity of the nation”, and further pointed out “we also always remember those who sacrificed their lives for the motherland”.