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COUNCIL OF EUROPE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER:
In response to the question concerning discrimination in the field
of restitution of property confiscated from religious communities
during the Soviet era, the COE Human Rights Commissioner mentioned
that he discussed this issue with various religious organizations,
NGOs, and the Georgian authorities. The Commissioner stressed that "it
is clear the process of property restitution as it has taken place up
until now has been marked by injustices and unfairness towards minority
religious communities. I have learned that there is an ongoing process
of discussion between the various religious groups and the Government
on the restitution of property, and some progress has been made,
for example, recently a Synagogue and a Lutheran church were restored
to their congregations. Clearly much more needs to be done and it is
clear that there are many churches that belonged to the Armenian Church
that have not yet been restituted. I also receive reports that many
of these buildings are cultural monuments that are on an advanced
state of disrepair and that they should be protected as cultural
monuments for all of Georgia. I was assured by the authorities that
these issues are being addressed, I would like to see faster progress".
http://www.ardzagank.ge/en/5/196-06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRFPHE7KWGU
From: A. Papazian
In response to the question concerning discrimination in the field
of restitution of property confiscated from religious communities
during the Soviet era, the COE Human Rights Commissioner mentioned
that he discussed this issue with various religious organizations,
NGOs, and the Georgian authorities. The Commissioner stressed that "it
is clear the process of property restitution as it has taken place up
until now has been marked by injustices and unfairness towards minority
religious communities. I have learned that there is an ongoing process
of discussion between the various religious groups and the Government
on the restitution of property, and some progress has been made,
for example, recently a Synagogue and a Lutheran church were restored
to their congregations. Clearly much more needs to be done and it is
clear that there are many churches that belonged to the Armenian Church
that have not yet been restituted. I also receive reports that many
of these buildings are cultural monuments that are on an advanced
state of disrepair and that they should be protected as cultural
monuments for all of Georgia. I was assured by the authorities that
these issues are being addressed, I would like to see faster progress".
http://www.ardzagank.ge/en/5/196-06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRFPHE7KWGU
From: A. Papazian