Director of Ninotsminda boarding school announces reform plan

The boarding school for orphans named after Saint Nino in Ninotsminda will be transformed into three small boarding facilities, which will keep children who do not want to leave the institution, said the manager of the boarding school, Bishop Yakov of Bodbe. Authorities refuse to take decisive measures in relation to the boarding house, as wouldn't like to spoil relations with the church, which during election campaigns supports the ruling party, analysts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch replaced the manager of the Ninotsminda orphanage after rights defenders criticized Bishop Spiridon Abuladze, the former manager. The new one, Bishop Jacob of Bodbe, has announced the upcoming staff cleansing in the school.

The Ombudsperson's office refused to inspect the boarding school, since they feared that children were under "serious pressure" in connection with the inspection conducted by social workers.

However, NGO activists claim that the stuff reshuffle at the boarding school will bring no desired results, as there are systemic problems. "The state must correct systemic errors and transfer children away from this boarding school," said Nika Svimonishvili, the head of the NGO "Young Lawyers' Association".

Four brothers told how they lived in the Saint Nino boarding school. According to two of them, the pupils were beaten up by both educators and older pupils, and deprived of lunch and sleep. However, the other brothers have refuted this information.

Theologians have pointed out that Georgian authorities will not go against the Patriarchy out of their political interests. In particular, among a part of the Orthodox community, priests enjoy authority; people believe all their statements.