27 May 2019, 21:11
Border guards close road to two David Gareja monasteries
A meeting of the border demarcation commission became the reason for the closure of the road to two monasteries by Georgian border guards, reported a priest from the David Gareja monastery complex. Against the background of the Azerbaijani activists' statements about a motor rally on the territory of the monastery complex, priests promised to hold their own action.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the construction of the road near the David Gareja complex heightened the tension on the border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. On May 26, on the Georgian Independence Day, residents of the country visited the monastery of the Chichkhituri complex for the first time over 12 years.
The dispute over the David Gareja monastery complex, one of the most important cultural and religious attractions of Georgia, continues because of the incomplete demarcation of the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
"I understand that we should have good relations with Azerbaijan, but not at the expense of the David Gareja complex ... We are to explain to our Azerbaijani friends that the Caucasus is our common home, the David Gareja monastery complex belongs to Georgia, and it cannot be divided," stated priest Zaza on the air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.
On May 28, the priests are to hold the action entitled "The David Gareja complex belongs to Georgia and the Caucasus is our common home". The priests appeal for a peaceful solution of the dispute around the monastery complex.
Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has said that Georgian citizens can now visit the monastery without any obstacles.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 27, 2019 at 03:08 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Inna Kukudjanova Source: CK correspondent
