PRIESTS ATTACKED AT ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI

[Yervant1]

PRIESTS ATTACKED AT ARMENIAN CHURCH IN TBILISI

Democracy & Freedom Watch
July 20 2014

by DFWatch staff | Jul 20, 2014

TBILISI, DFWatch-About 50 people physically attacked priests at an
Armenian Church in Tbilisi on Saturday.

The Armenian Orthodox Church says the attack was motivated by religious
and ethnic prejudice, but Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs
treats the incident as normal crime not related to discrimination.

According to the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church in
Georgia, July 19, there was an organized attack on Surb Etchmiadzin
Church in Tbilisi, motivated by ethnic and regions hatred.

The Church's statements says a provocation took place at about 16:00.

A woman was trying to drive her car out of the area adjacent to the
church, but was unsuccessful and started to express dissatisfaction
towards the cleric at the Armenian Church as if his car was blocking
the way for her own to car in the parking area.

At that moment, two 'aggressively disposed' men approached and helped
to get the car out. The cleric entered the administrative building
of Armenian Church.

Then there were young deacons in the yard, who heard that the men
were verbally insulting Armenians. They protested. A man left the car,
took a baton and a stone and again insulted and attempted to hit the
representatives of the Armenian Diocese.

Hearing a noise from outside, other clerics came out into the yard
in order to defuse the situation, when the man hit one of clerics on
his back. There was a short fight.

Two hours after the incident, the man returned with a group of about
50 men. Some of them were armed with cold weapons. They approached the
church and got into a scuffle with the clerics and employees of the
diocese, all the time verbally insulting Armenians. People attending
a Christening ceremony inside the church came out into the yard and
the men attacked them too.

"Women and children, shocked by what they had seen, hid in the church,"
the statement reads. "We must note that a group of nicely dressed
people were watching the incident."

As a result of the attack, clerics and employees of the Armenian
Diocese got physical injuries. One of the men tore a cross off one
priest and took it with him.

The Armenian Church calls on law enforcement bodies to thoroughly
investigate what happened on Saturday as a crime committed on ethnic
and religious grounds.

Nino Giorgobiani, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
told DF Watch that the quarrel took place on 'everyday grounds'
because the conflict started about the parking of car. She said an
investigation has been launched in the incident.

Levon Isakhanyan, head of the department of legal issues, relations
with state institutions and interreligious cooperation at the Armenian
Apostolic Church in Georgia, told DF Watch that Interior Ministry
launched an investigation for beating, which is incorrect. He said that
there is footage of the attack, which the diocese will publish soon.

The Armenian Church called on the media to avoid promoting
anti-Armenian attitudes in society and also called on Georgia's
Orthodox Church to publicly condemn any actions based on ethnic and
religious hatred and preach kindness and love.

"For many centuries, we have have been concerned with the internal
stability of Georgia and interethnic and interreligious relations,
and we call on the Georgian government to take all necessary measures
in order to avoid ethnic and religious separation of Georgian society."

http://dfwatch.net/priests-attacked-at-armenian-church-in-tbilisi-37301

[Arpa]

Why are there Armenian priests in Georgia, Gurjistan , Vrastan , Verastan?

When did Tiflis become a suburb of Ejmiatsin?

Of course Tiflis is closer to Yerevan than Rekjavik.

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=6660&page=1&&do=findComment&comment=52376

Edited July 21, 2014 by Arpa

[Yervant1]

Mother See condemns the attack on the Armenian Church in Georgia

17:05 21.07.2014

Georgia, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has expressed deep concern over the
attack on the Armenian Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, and
denounces the actions disseminating national hostility and religious
intolerance.

"This provocative assault is a result of the anti-Armenian sentiments
spread by different organizations and individuals, including some
clergymen, in Georgia," the Mother See said in a statement.

"Such radical expressions do not befit the spirit of friendly
relations between the Armenian and Georgian peoples, which is one of
the precious achievements of our common past," the statement reads.

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin expects the Georgian authorities to
prosecute all those involved in the assault against the Armenian
Church and ensure the secure life of the Armenian community and church
in Georgia.

About 50 people physically attacked priests at the Armenian Surb
Etchmiadzin Church on Saturday. The Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church said the attack was motivated by religious and ethnic
prejudice.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/07/21/mother-see-condemns-the-attack-on-the-armenian-church-in-georgia-2/

[Yervant1]

Armenian diocese disagrees with Georgia ministry assessment

17:00, 21.07.2014



The Diocese of Georgia of the Armenian Apostolic Church disagrees with
the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs' assessment on the incident
that occurred nearby the Holy Etchmiadzin Armenian Church in Tbilisi.

And it will strive to achieve a thorough investigation and an
equivalent qualification of the case, Diocese spokesperson Susanna
Khachatryan stated.

"We don't agree that it's an ordinary hooliganism, and we will
demand an investigation," the Novosti Gruzia news agency quoted
Khachatryan as saying.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia had stated that the
incident did not have ethnic grounds, it occurred on domestic grounds,
and a criminal case is launched on charges of brawl.

According to Diocese attorney Levon Isakhanyan, five clergy of the
church had suffered injuries as a result of the incident.

"What happened was the first incident of such extent. [but] the
important thing is to do everything so that this kind of thing will
not happen again," Isakhanyan added.

http://news.am/eng/news/220141.html

[Yervant1]

Ambassador speaks on attack on Armenian Church in Georgia

14:10, 21.07.2014

We will send a note to the Georgian MFA...

Armenia's Ambassador to Georgia Yuri Vardanyan knows the details of
the recent attack on the Armenian church in the Georgian capital city
Tbilisi, but he cannot speak about them at this point.

The newly appointed ambassador told the abovementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"We [Armenia] will send a note [of protest] to the [Georgian] MFA. We
can say nothing about hooliganism either; the law enforcement agencies
are working [on the matter]. But we're preparing a document so they
may find out what was the reason for this incomprehensible situation,"
Vardanyan said.

On the evening of July 19, a group comprising around fifty people had
attacked and brutally beaten, at the yard of the Holy Etchmiadzin
Armenian Church in Tbilisi, several members of the Church clergy, and
the officials and faithful of the Diocese of Georgia of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

Armenia News - NEWS.am

[Yervant1]

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_relations

[onjig]

That's a real shame, Georgia being a Christian country! Just what we need an enemy on that side too.

 

 

 

Of course there would be the Armenian Church, and priests, in Georgia. You know " If there are 10 Armenians there will be the Armenian Church."

 

If we were on the moon, there would be Soorp Kevork Armenian Chruch there.

 

This Armenian Madoor is in a valley close to Lake Tahoe.

 

Edited July 24, 2014 by onjig

[Yervant1]

Georgian Patriarchate condemns Armenian Church attack

15:44 23.07.2014


The Georgian Orthodox Church condemns the incident at the Armenian
Surb Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi and calls on the participants in
the confrontation to make peace.

On July 22 Prelate of the Georgian-Armenian Diocese, Bishop Vazgen
Mirzakhanyan met with representative of the Georgian Orthodox Church
to discuss what happened on Saturday. The parties noted that the
conflict emerged as a result of an incident and does not have a
religious or ethnic basis.

"The Georgian Church condemns the incident and calls on participants
in the confrontation to make peace," according to a statement by the
Georgian Orthodox Church. "The Church as usual will help to solve the
problem and to create peaceful coexistence of religious confessions in
the country."

The Georgian ombudsman earlier addresses law enforcement bodies to
properly and effectively investigate the attack on priests at an
Armenian church on July 19. On Saturday, about 50 people attacked Surb
Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi. The Armenian Diocese says the attack
was motivated by religious and ethnic prejudice, but the Interior
Ministry denies the incident was a case of discrimination.


http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/07/23/georgian-patriarchate-condemns-armenian-church-attack/

[Yervant1]

Democracy & Freedom Watch
July 22 2014


Ombudsman asks for effective investigation of Armenian church attack

by DFWatch staff | Jul 22, 2014


TBILISI, DFWatch-The Georgian ombudsman addresses law enforcement
bodies to properly and effectively investigate the attack on priests
at an Armenian church on July 19.

On Saturday, about 50 people attacked Surb Etchmiadzin Church in
Tbilisi. The Armenian Diocese says the attack was motivated by
religious and ethnic prejudice, but the Interior Ministry denies the
incident was a case of discrimination.

The ombudsman's statement on Monday says that considering the context
in which the incident took place it is important that the
investigation is launched with proper qualification in order to avoid
further tension in the situation.

The investigation is based on section 125 of the criminal code, about
beating, but employees of the Ombudsman's Office have questioned
witnesses and studied footage taken on the day of the attack and
concluded that another types of crime might have taken place: It could
be hooliganism, organized group violence, or damaging someone's
health.

"It is important that law enforcement bodies collect and carefully
study all the evidence which can indicate that the crime might have
been committed on ethnic motives," the statement reads.

The ombudsman writes that there is a background of religious and
ethnic intolerance in the country and therefore the government and
society must do its best to rapidly give clear answers to the incident
which took place on July 19.


"It is necessary that the government, civil society and media make
efforts not to let a new wave of intolerance take place in the
country."

On Sunday, the Armenian ambassador to Georgia told journalists that
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia sent a note to Georgia
about the incident at Surb Etchmiadzin Church.

He said the Armenian government knows what has happened and why the
disagreement started, but at this stage they cannot say that it
happened deliberately.

The ambassador says that law enforcement bodies will find out what happened.

Patriarchate's Foreign Affairs Department and a bishop of Armenian
Church met Tuesday to discuss what happened on Saturday, according to
a statement by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

"The Georgian Church condemns the incident and calls on participants
in the confrontation to make peace," the statement reads. "The Church
as usual will help to solve the problem and to create peaceful
coexistence of religious confessions in the country."

http://dfwatch.net/ombudsman-asks-for-effective-investigation-of-armenian-church-attack-59595

[Yervant1]

The Messenger, Georgia
July 24 2014

What happened at the Armenian Church in Tbilisi?

By Messenger Staff
Thursday, July 24

There was a clash at the Armenian Church in Tbilisi on July19. It
could be taken as an ordinary clash or hooliganism. However, Armenian
Church representatives in Georgia state that it was a deliberate
attack on the Armenian Church, which according to them was based on
religious and ethnic grounds.

Georgian analysts believe that there are other forces at work aiming
to aggravate Georgian-Armenian relations. Therefore, analysts demand
an overwhelming investigation in order to reveal the individuals who
wish to create an ethnic-religious confrontation in Georgia.

There are two main versions of this story. According to the first
version, a driver was trying to turn her car around and got upset
because of another car blocking the street. An argument then ensued
resulting in a clash. Some supporters of the woman appeared.
Spirituals tried to calm the situation, but unfortunately, one of them
was assaulted during the skirmish.

However, Armenian Church representatives said it was a deliberate
attack by Orthodox Christian Georgians on Armenians motivated by
ethnic and religious reasons.

Nikoloz Mzhavanadze, Chairman of the Human Rights' Protection Union,
claims that it was deliberate propaganda coming from a certain group
in the country, who wants to strain situation between the two
neighboring countries.

Representatives of various NGOs made a statement on July 22 and
concluded that the incident included verbally abusive language in
terms of ethnicity. They claim that the incident transformed into
wider aggression that was mainly targeted towards some representatives
of the Armenian Church rather than the church itself or an ethnic
group. It was also stated that there was a certain number of ethnic
Armenians in both groups.

NGOs ask the government to conduct an urgent investigation of the case
and take adequate measures to avoid the risk of a similar
confrontation.

"The government should pay the utmost attention to anti-Armenian
attitudes in the country to prevent future conflict," NGOs state.

The Georgian Patriarchate immediately responded to the incident,
stating that the incident had no ethnic or religious overtones to it,
at the same time condemning the behavior of those involved in the
incident.

According to some analysts, such an incident might serve Russian
interests in Georgia. Such developments would create unrest in Georgia
and damage Georgia's path to NATO and the EU. As such, analysts appeal
to the Georgian government to pay more attention to this sensitive
issue to avoid any future confrontations.

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3165_july_24_2014/3165_edit.html