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US State Department About Rights of Georgian Orthodox People

November 18, 2010
Georgian orthodox people cannot take religious services in the so-called South Ossetia. The report of the bureau of democracy, human rights and labor at the US State Department discussed the problem; the report demonstrates the situation of freedom of religion throughout the world.

“The parish of the Georgian Orthodox Church cannot go to the churches in the villages of Nuli, Eredvi and Geri because those villages are controlled by the de-facto authority of South Ossetia,” said the report.

The authors of the document also state that people encounter problems when crossing the administrative border to go to the churches and cemeteries of their family member; it happens particularly in the so-called South Ossetia.

The report also states that the de-facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are supported by the Russian occupation armies, they are not controlled by the Georgian central authority and it is difficult to get reliable information from the territories.

“According to the resolution of Abkhaz leader issued in 1995, the activities of Jehovah Witnesses were prohibited in the region and this resolution is still in force though is not implemented in reality. The group of these people say that they still continue their activities in the region but the resolution restricted their activities,” the report states.

The report also states that Baptists, Lutherans and Catholics were allowed to carry out their activities in Abkhazia but in fact it is impossible.
 
“In 2008, Orthodox Synod of Russia issued resolution which recognized the jurisdiction of Georgian Orthodox Church over the eparchies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; but on September 16, 2009 Abkhaz orthodox church declared “independence” from the Georgian Church,” states the document.

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