The Center for Social Justice (formerly the EMC) is responding to cases of violence involving clergy in recent weeks and is calling on the state to investigate these cases effectively. At the same time, we call on the Georgian Patriarchate to publicly distance itself from the practice of violence against citizens and journalists and to take measures to create a peaceful and secure environment within the Church and to impose internal ecclesiastical legal responsibility on abusive clergy.

There have been a number of unfortunate incidents of alleged crime involving the clergy in recent weeks, which take on the character of a practice of violence. The involvement of high-ranking clergy in these incidents normalizes and encourages violence and, given the influence of the Church, disrupts social peace.

On May 7, 2021, Metropolitan Anton of the Vani-Baghdadi eparchy harassed Irakli Vachiberadze, the journalist of the opposition TV station Mtavari. Metropolitan Anton first verbally abused the journalist, then threatened to ban him from moving around the eparchy, and finally, physically abused him - grabbed his throat in the presence of others and kicked him back. Reverend Anton's actions and threatening statements are filmed and documented by the TV station.

On May 6, 2021, Deacon Teimuraz Tatarashvili, visiting Metropolitan Iobi at the Eparchy of Ruisi and Urbnisi for the feast of St. George was physically assaulted by the driver of Svimon Tsakashvili, Bishop of Surami and Khashuri in the same Eparchy, because the deacon, as he says, expressed a "rude attitude" towards the bishop. Various sources indicate that the quarrel, in which Reverend Simeon also took part, was attended by Metropolitan Job, several clergymen, and the deacon was not only physically abused, but was also humiliated and asked to apologize. [1]

On May 4, 2021, Iveri Melashvili, accused of cartography in the territory of Davit Gareji Monastery, and the film crew of the channel “Mtavari”, were attacked by clerics and one civilian. The above-mentioned persons, who were presumably drunk, verbally assaulted Melashvili and physically assaulted the film crew. According to the victims, the border police was also on the spot, but did nothing.

On April 25, 2021, a physical confrontation took place in the yard of the Salkhino Church in the Chkondidi Eparchy, where a mass service related to the Feast of the Palm Sunday was to be held. Supporters and opponents of the newly dispatched bishop of Chkondidi Eparchy confronted each other. Clergymen were also involved in the clashes. [2]

Unfortunately, the investigative bodies have not yet responded effectively to the above-mentioned cases of violence. A significant proportion of the perpetrators of the violence have not been summoned to the investigation and have not been held accountable so far. On the whole, in cases of these cases, it is unknown to the public what investigative actions were taken by the police and the prosecutor's office on the incidents and what are their consequences. The demonstrative passivity and ineffectiveness of the investigative bodies clearly encourages and normalizes such violence. Of particular concern is the admission of violence against members of the media, which has unjustified consequences for obstructing their work and interrupting the work of the media.

It is noteworthy that such cases occur most often against members of opposition television, which is a common result of the reality of government's hate speech rhetoric and the political polarization. The irresponsible use of hatred and nationalist narratives has been particularly acute around the David Gareji issue and the Cartographers' case. Unfortunately, the government and the ruling political team still do not understand the risks of political instrumentalization of hate or hostile speech, rhetoric and sentiments, which is detrimental to social peace and the democratic development of the country.

In our view, the practice of violence perpetrated by clergy, including high-ranking clergy, is the result and symptom of a severe crisis created within the church over the years. Systemic problems accumulated within the church as an institutional system, including political affiliation, politicization of the patriarchate and uncontrolled political privileges, over-accumulation of financial and material resources within high hierarchies, and social alienation created at this background, very low level of education in clergy and radical political and social visions based on hatred and social hierarchies - have remained unreflected and unresolved for years. Of particular concern are the semi-criminal practices created in some eparchies (especially in the eparchy of Ruis-Urbnis), which remain completely unpunished and untouched by both the state and the patriarchate. We have also repeatedly seen cases of large-scale social violence in our society organized with the participation or admission / tolerance of high clergy (for example, May 17 and numerous episodes of persecution of LGBT people). Despite numerous discussions and criticisms about the crisis, the Patriarchate has never embarked on an important process of critical self-reflection and reform. Clearly, this state of isolation and closure is plunging the Church into an even deeper crisis, which is already taking on severe forms of internal division, strife, mistrust, and violence.

In our view, the current crisis requires the Patriarchate to understand the systemic causes behind it and to undertake long-term institutional reform. Beyond that, however, it is important for the Patriarchate to take immediate steps towards taking ecclesiastical legal action against those directly involved in the violence and to prevent violence.

Considering the above-mentioned, the Center for Social Justice holds that

• The Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs should

Launch an effective, timely and fair investigation into all of the above facts, including identifying motives for obstruction of journalistic activities, as well as for intolerance of political or other views, and give an adequate legal qualification to the actions;

• Ministry of Internal Affairs should

Properly measure the potential risks of violence in individual eparchies and take adequate preventive measures, adhering strictly to the principles of impartiality and neutrality in the process;

• Government, Parliament and political parties should

Recognize the severe social consequences and harms of political instrumentalization of hate-based sentiments and take appropriate measures (including through information campaigns; establishing internal party regulations) to establish a political ethic and culture based on peace, democratic principles and mutual respect;

• The Patriarchate of Georgia should

Distance itself from the violent incidents committed in recent weeks with the participation of its clergy, including against media representatives and cartographers, and to take ecclesiastical and other measures to prevent violence and to hold perpetrators accountable.

Share