Door of Georgian Church Nailed Shut in Saingilo, Azerbaijan

If service is renewed in the church Georgian Orthodox parish is threatened

კურმუხის წმ. გიორგის ეკლესია

The Georgian Orthodox population residing in Saingilo attended services in Kurmukho St. George’s Church. Local people say that service was held in Georgian language once in a week. “We managed to supervise the church; however, fourteen days ago we arrived and saw the door nailed up. We met the clergyman who kept the key. He said Azeri people seized the key from him and put a lock on the door. The Azeri people threatened Orthodox Georgians if anybody tries to break the lock,” said Mariam Gamkharashvili, a resident of Kakhi.

The Orthodox Georgians of Saingilo are seriously concerned but can do little to change the situation. “The Herrs got in touch with us over the phone and urged for help. They stated that the Georgian Church was locked and that people are not allowed to pray there. It is not a secret that these people have some problems with speaking loudly about their faith. The Georgian Government does not support them properly and their rights are blatantly violated in the territory of Azerbaijan,” said representatives of the Human Rights Center.

The Herrs stated that the Azeri residents began to target them after the Azerbaijan-Samtatskaro Bridge, the only route in the area linking Azerbaijan and Georgia, was closed. Herrs residing in Dedoflistskaro District have not seen their family members and relatives in more than two years. The people have unsuccessfully appealed multiple times to the Georgian President and Georgian MPs in both the government and opposition for help. Georgian authorities do not appear interested in their problem at all. “We felt courageous when our relatives living in Georgia visited us. We had some kind of hope. But now we feel abandoned. Consequently, the Azeris repress us. They have closed the only Georgian place we went to. Unless we obey their orders, they threaten to assault us,” said Milia Sakanelashvili.

Mitropolit Sergi, the Holly leader of the Nekresi and Hereti Eparchy, has been informed about the situation in Saingilo. “The key to the church door was seized from our clergyman and the door was locked. People are not allowed in and we do not know what will happen in future. I plan to go to Saingilo and see the situation myself,” said Mitropolit Sergi.

The Human Rights Center contacted the embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia, but was unable to reach an official spokesperson. The embassy declined to comment on the situation in Saingilo.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti