Georgian President: destruction of national gallery in occupied Abkhazia due to “neglect” by de facto authorities, Russia

Calling the destruction of nearly the entire vault of artwork in the gallery on Sunday a “tragedy”, Zourabichvili made calls to the international community. Photo: President press office 

Agenda.ge, 22 Jan 2024 - 17:34, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday reacted to a fire in National Gallery in the capital city of Sokhumi in the country’s Russian-occupied north-western Abkhazia region by placing the blame on “neglect” of cultural heritage in the region by the de facto authorities and Russian occupation forces. 

Calling the destruction of nearly the entire vault of artwork in the gallery on Sunday a “tragedy”, Zourabichvili called on the international community to draw attention to the protection of Georgian cultural heritage in the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.