Part of Society Sends Questions to the Government

Part of society sends questions to the government about the obligations between the state and the Orthodox Church.

“We think relation between the state of Georgia and Orthodox Church exceeds the fundamental principles of secular state; we are concerned about the issue and kindly ask you some questions. We think answering these questions are urgently important for the democratic development of the country and for the establishment of the Rule of Law,” the petition signed by 235 people states; among them are Archpriest Kakhaber Kurtanidze, journalist Eka Kvesitadze, expert Nugzar Papuashvili, member of the Liberty Institute Tea Tutberidze and others.

Authors of the petition request the government to answer the following questions: why is not the Law on Lustration adopted which will work for both political and religious figures? Is not funding of the Orthodox Church with 25 million GEL from the reserve funds of the president and the government and state budget discrimination of other confessions and involvement of the state in the activities of the church? How legal was giving jeeps and luxurious vehicles to high hierarchs of the patriarchate as gifts before the parliamentary elections? How legal is the assignment of estates, buildings, forests and lands on the patriarchate?  Why the properties are not returned to other religious confessions which were seized from them during Soviet Regime? Why is only Orthodox Church free from taxes? How lawful is participation of politicians in religious services particularly during pre-election campaign? How correct was for the president to accept the delegation of the NATO Armed Forces in the Cathedral of St. Trinity? Why does not the government react on the crimes committed by the orthodox clergymen?

In parallel to it, the authors of the petition think, similar relation between the church and the state threats liberal-democratic development of the state.

Two petitions – “Questions to the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia” and “Questions to the Government of Georgia” were sent to the president’s residence and Patriarchate of Georgia on December 3. Tea Tutberidze said to the “Pirveli” – “If nobody replies to our petitions, their silence will be kind of reply too. Because it means they have nothing to tell.”

You can see the full list of questions on internet forums: www.planeta.ge www.forum.ge 

Source: “ Pirveli”