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Incident in Tbilisi: Fight renews debate over Georgian-Armenian relations
Society | 22.07.14 | 17:38
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
A fight between Armenian priests and Georgians in front of an Armenian
church in the Georgian capital last weekend has renewed concerns over
Georgian-Armenian relations.
Enlarge Photo
A pre-planned attack was carried out against representatives of the
Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, the Georgian Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church said on Sunday. According to a
statement, the July 19 attack was motivated by ethnic and religious
hatred.
The statement says that a Georgian lady could not drive her car out of
the parking lot and blamed the Armenian priest for blocking her way.
Later on the argument continued with two other Georgians who came to
her support. In two hours around 50 people gathered around the church
and a fight began.
The spiritual leader of the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in
Tbilisi, priest Ter Manuk Zeynalyan told ArmeniaNow Monday told that
this last incident stems from much deeper issues.
"Among Georgians there is a layer of people who will never stop
cursing at Armenians and they will never change, I do not even doubt
that the government will ever be able to change that, because as a
matter of fact it all comes from above," Zeynayan says.
The Armenian community in Georgia reaches 250,000, and there are more
than 300 Armenian churches, only 40 of them function, another six
caused disagreements between the Armenian Apostolic church and
Georgian Orthodox church. There are only two Armenian churches in
Tbilisi but at the moment one of the churches - St. Gevorg is
undergoing restoration and is temporarily closed.
The priest says that the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church has had
progress in the recent years, there is a church affiliated Armenian
House culture center with Unions of writers, painters, musicians with
over 650 students.
"All this, I think is very obvious, and Georgians views toward the
church have drastically changed," the priest said adding that though
the case is under investigation at the police they have no big
expectations.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reflected on the occurrence
expressing deep concern and condemning "this act of ethnic hostility
and religious intolerance", mentioning that "that instigating
aggression is a result of anti-Armenian mood spread in Georgia by
various organizations and individuals including some Georgian
priests".
According to Novosti Georgia daily, Georgian National Affairs Ministry
representative said that the incident had no inter-ethnic character,
and the clash took place in the street triggered by a
misunderstanding.
A young Georgian flower seller nearby the church said that though he
was not there on that day, he assured that they are in good terms with
Armenians, the occurrence had no political basis, just a mere hooligan
behavior which he also condemns.
But an Armenian national, Liza who works at a store on one of the
central streets in Tbilisi, said that Georgians have always been
discriminative toward Armenians, and the latest event is a proof of
it.
"We all are shocked, there have always been some negative views from
Georgians, but to attack the priests in the church in that way, we
have never seen anything like that and we are concerned," the
saleswoman said.
http://armenianow.com/society/56280/armenian_holy_echmiadzin_church_armeniangeorgian_r elations
Society | 22.07.14 | 17:38
GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
A fight between Armenian priests and Georgians in front of an Armenian
church in the Georgian capital last weekend has renewed concerns over
Georgian-Armenian relations.
Enlarge Photo
A pre-planned attack was carried out against representatives of the
Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, the Georgian Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church said on Sunday. According to a
statement, the July 19 attack was motivated by ethnic and religious
hatred.
The statement says that a Georgian lady could not drive her car out of
the parking lot and blamed the Armenian priest for blocking her way.
Later on the argument continued with two other Georgians who came to
her support. In two hours around 50 people gathered around the church
and a fight began.
The spiritual leader of the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church in
Tbilisi, priest Ter Manuk Zeynalyan told ArmeniaNow Monday told that
this last incident stems from much deeper issues.
"Among Georgians there is a layer of people who will never stop
cursing at Armenians and they will never change, I do not even doubt
that the government will ever be able to change that, because as a
matter of fact it all comes from above," Zeynayan says.
The Armenian community in Georgia reaches 250,000, and there are more
than 300 Armenian churches, only 40 of them function, another six
caused disagreements between the Armenian Apostolic church and
Georgian Orthodox church. There are only two Armenian churches in
Tbilisi but at the moment one of the churches - St. Gevorg is
undergoing restoration and is temporarily closed.
The priest says that the Armenian Holy Echmiadzin Church has had
progress in the recent years, there is a church affiliated Armenian
House culture center with Unions of writers, painters, musicians with
over 650 students.
"All this, I think is very obvious, and Georgians views toward the
church have drastically changed," the priest said adding that though
the case is under investigation at the police they have no big
expectations.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin reflected on the occurrence
expressing deep concern and condemning "this act of ethnic hostility
and religious intolerance", mentioning that "that instigating
aggression is a result of anti-Armenian mood spread in Georgia by
various organizations and individuals including some Georgian
priests".
According to Novosti Georgia daily, Georgian National Affairs Ministry
representative said that the incident had no inter-ethnic character,
and the clash took place in the street triggered by a
misunderstanding.
A young Georgian flower seller nearby the church said that though he
was not there on that day, he assured that they are in good terms with
Armenians, the occurrence had no political basis, just a mere hooligan
behavior which he also condemns.
But an Armenian national, Liza who works at a store on one of the
central streets in Tbilisi, said that Georgians have always been
discriminative toward Armenians, and the latest event is a proof of
it.
"We all are shocked, there have always been some negative views from
Georgians, but to attack the priests in the church in that way, we
have never seen anything like that and we are concerned," the
saleswoman said.
http://armenianow.com/society/56280/armenian_holy_echmiadzin_church_armeniangeorgian_r elations