25 May 2019, 10:55
Georgian activists tell about road works at David Gareja Complex
The road construction near the David Gareja Monastery Complex has increased tensions on the Georgian-Azerbaijani border. The Azerbaijani side has announced a motor rally in the territory of the complex, and Georgian activists – a response action.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April, during several days, Azerbaijani border guards did not allow monks and tourists to enter the Udabno monastery from the territory of Georgia.
The dispute over the David Gareja monastery complex, the most important cultural and religious attraction of Georgia, continues because of the incomplete demarcation of the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Political analysts and historians of Azerbaijani rule out the possibility of giving up the Azerbaijani part of the monastery complex.
Azerbaijan is broadening the road to the complex; because of the bulldozer operation, the flow of tourists and pilgrims to the territory is limited, the "Rustavi-2" TV Channel reported on May 24.
David Katsarava, the leader of the "Strength in Unity" Movement, posted a video on the Facebook that shows the road construction from a bird's-eye view. According to his story, the works on the border are on for ten days.
Archimandrite Kyrian, the head of one of the monasteries of the complex, has criticized the Georgian authorities for absence of their reaction to Azerbaijan's actions. The monastery complex is a monument of historical and cultural heritage; any bulldozer works in its territory are prohibited, he said.
Information has been spread in the Azerbaijani segment of the Facebook about a motor rally to the territory of the monastery complex scheduled for May 28. On this day, Azerbaijan celebrates a state holiday – the Republic's Day.
"Probably, they make a road in order to bring people there on May 28, as they had announced. We don't know exactly what is planned: probably, they want to show that this is their territory. We intend to go there altogether on May 28 in the morning," the "Echo of the Caucasus" quoted the activist, Misha Khokrishvili as saying on May 24.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 25, 2019 at 01:13 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Galina Gotua Source: CK correspondent
