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Time in Yerevan: 11:07,   29 March 2024

Georgian Orthodox Church considers unacceptable the attack on the Armenian Church in Tbilisi

Georgian Orthodox Church considers unacceptable the attack on the Armenian Church in Tbilisi

YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS. Previously was reported that on July 19, 2014, a pre-
planned attack was perpetrated on the representatives of the Armenian Church of St. Etchmiadzin located in 
Tbilisi, which was motivated by ethnic and religious hatred. As reports “Armenpress”, this was stated in a press release issued by the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia. The statement in particular runs as follows: 
 “On July 19, 2014, a pre-planned attack was perpetrated on the representatives of the Armenian Church of 
St. Etchmiadzin located in Tbilisi, which was motivated by ethnic and religious hatred. At around 4 pm, a 
provocation was organized on a territory adjacent to the yard of the Church. After an unsuccessful attempt to 
drive from the territory adjacent to the yard of the Church, a person got outraged and began to reproach a 
clergyman, whose car was allegedly blocking her way. Soon, two openly aggressive men arrived on the scene and helped to take out the vehicle. The clergyman entered the administrative building of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, while young deacons, who stood outside, heard the men using foul language against Armenians. 
When people began to protest this move, the man got off the vehicle, took a truncheon, continued to use 
obscene language, picked up a stone, and attempted to hit the representatives of the Armenian Diocese. When the personnel of the Armenian Diocese heard these voices, they rushed outside hoping to calm down the situation. At this time, one of the employees of the Diocese was hit in the back, and a short fight ensued.
About two hours later following this incident, the above-mentioned man mobilized a group of about 50 males, 
some of them equipped with cold arms. These men approached the Church and began to fight with the clergy and the personnel of the Diocese, using obscene language against Armenians. During this situation, a baptizing ceremony was held in the Church; the ceremony participants ran outside the Church at the scream and were also assaulted by the attackers. Shocked by the situation, women and children sought shelter in the Church. 
Notably, this situation was supposedly being watched by a group of individuals, who looked well dressed. As 
a result of this attack, the clergymen and the personnel of the Armenian Diocese were inflicted injuries, while 
one of the clergymen was ripped off a cross taken by the attackers.
We urge the Georgian Law Enforcement Authorities to categorize these actions and investigate them as a 
crime committed based on ethnic and religious hatred.
To a certain degree, this incident is a result of anti-Armenian campaign pursued by some of the Media sources, and sadly, by some of the representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church. We call on the Media to refrain from spreading the anti-Armenian sentiments in society. We call on the Supreme Hierarchs of the Georgian Orthodox Church to publicly condemn any actions motivated by the ethnic and religious hatred and to preach the Christian kindness and love.
We cherish the internal stability of Georgia and centuries-old inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in 
the country and urge the Georgian Authorities to take all appropriate measures to prevent a schism in the 
Georgian society, based on ethnic and religious grounds.”
Georgian Orthodox Church considers unacceptable the attack on representatives of Armenian Church of 
St. Etchmiadzin located in Tbilisi. The head of Press service of Georgian Orthodox Church Michael Botkoveli mentioned about this during the conversation with “Armenpress”. “ I do not aware of the case, but if there was such a thing, then I consider it unacceptable and impossible. Law enforcement bodies will deal with that” Michael Botkoveli said.








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