Georgian authorities block Orthodox priests from entering "KaZantip" festival

Orthodox Church leaders and activists, who had organized a protest action against the "KaZantip" festival, were not allowed to enter the village of Ganmukhuri, which would become the main venue of the festival. The entrance to the village is blocked by the police. The priests state they will remain near the village of Ganmukhuri until the end of the festival and will urge people not to take part in it.

On August 14, Georgia hosted a protest action against the "KaZantip" festival. About 150 Orthodox activists led by priests marched through the streets of the village of Anakliya, which would host the festival on August 20-30. In response to the protest action, organizers have invited the marchers to take part in the "KaZantip" festival.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Father David, the Archpriest of the Tsalka Monastery, the priests wished to hold the ceremony of consecration of water in the village of Ganmukhuri in connection with the beginning of Lent.

However, the extra-departmental police service and staff members of the Department of State Security blocked the entrance to the village. Meanwhile, the order not to let the protesters in the village of Ganmukhuri was issued by the authorities and not by the festival organizers.

The Patriarchate of Georgia believes that the festival is a "forcible imposition of sin against humiliation of faith, morality and national values."