Georgia: Global Voices on Armenian Church Desecration Scandal

Georgia: Armenian Church Scandal

With religion arguably playing a greater role in the lives of most of its citizens according to recent surveys, the ever strengthening power of the Orthodox Church in Georgia has long been of some concern in the South Caucasus republic. Publishing her research paper online in August, blogger Diana Chachua warned of the dangers.

[…] A truly democratic society cannot accept physically or verbally aggressive treatment of its people on the basis of religion or belief — which has taken place to a great extent over the years in Georgia. From a legal standpoint, these aggressive acts represent a classic case of hate crimes motivated by religious bias, and religious extremism. […]

Misusing of those religious values against other religious representatives and in personal political aims is what makes hard for country like Georgia to exceed from transition period into full length democracy. […] Looking through Georgia’s past and present, religion nationalism still keeps its hazard and this is what should be avoided.

The full post is available on Global Voices Online.

Armenia: Bloggers Throw Funeral at Georgian Embassy

Carrying a black casket labeled “The Newborn Georgian Democracy,” a group of bloggers in Yerevan have marched toward the Georgian Embassy protesting what they call the destruction and desecration of Armenian cultural monuments in neighboring Georgia. Bloggers tell the story.

[…]

While the overwhelming majority of Armenian bloggers seem to be in support of the protest at the Georgian Embassy, a blogger from Tbilisi cautions not to generalize all Georgians in such actions.

Most troubling, many now will think that all Georgians are like that and that Armenians are treated [in Georgia] horribly. We, Tbilisi Armenians, always lived and will continue living with Georgians in friendship and [we are] not complaining.

The full post is available on Global Voices Online.