Georgian Authorities’ Decision Increases Armenophobia, Xenophobia: Georgian MP

The Georgian authorities have adopted such a law on providing legal status to religious groups that has paved the way for Armenophobia and xenophobia, said one of the leaders of Georgia’s Christian Democrats MP Levan Vepkhvadze told PirWeli news agency.

Commenting on Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin’s statement, the MP said, “This means an appetite comes with eating and Etchmiadzin plainly says, ‘You gave us status? Well now give us the churches’.”

“The fact is that the authorities have long had fears associated with the Church’s prestige and ranking. They found a moment to destroy the authority of the Church. The fact that after the appeal and request by the Church, the authorities nevertheless approve the bill might cause frustration among certain groups in the population. This step is aimed precisely at this,” he said.