TBILISI, Georgia—Clerics at the Holy Etchmiadzin Church in Tbilisi, were attacked in what the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Georgia is calling a racially motivated assault, in an announcement issued immediately after the incident on June 19.
The Holy Etchmiadzin church in Tbilisi
The attack took place at 5 p.m. in the church courtyard, when a group of men attacked clergy and churchgoers who had gathered outside following a baptism ceremony. Earlier that day, around noontime, a Georgian woman who had parked her car near the church entrance had experienced difficulty pulling out of her spot. When an Armenian clergyman and Diocese staff offered to help, she turned down their offer. Instead, she phoned her relatives who arrived shortly thereafter and helped her maneuver out of the spot, all the while engaging in hate speech directed against the Armenians. When a Diocese staff member tried to reason with them, the verbal assault turned into physical violence, until the sides parted.
Later that day, the group returned, this time accompanied by 50 other persons. Finding the priest, Father Manoug Zeynlyan, along with Levon Isakhanyan, the head of the legal department of the Diocese of Georgia, and Robert Isakhanyan, the accountant, in the courtyard, the group proceeded to attack them, causing physical injuries. The attackers continuously hurled anti-Armenian slurs. One of the perpetrators yanked the cross from around Father Zeynlyan’s neck. Meanwhile, churchgoers who had gathered for the baptism ceremony began to exit the church and attempted to reason with the attackers, but were attacked themselves. Women and children who had exited the church ran back inside. Before the arrival of the police, an employee of the Diocese with the legal right to carry firearm shot a few warning shots, which dispersed the attackers.
According to witnesses, the group was motivated by anti-Armenian hatred exhibited in the verbal slurs they used. Some seemed under the influence of narcotics, others alcohol. The group was also allegedly led by men in high-end vehicles and attire.
“All this is a result of the hatred against Armenians and the Armenian Church that is being propagated in many Georgian churches and the media,” read the statement. “Such radical expressions do not befit the spirit of friendly relations between the Armenian and Georgian peoples, which is one of the precious achievements of our common past.”
Diocese and church officials urged Georgian authorities to launch a hate crimes investigation, but an internal ministry official has refused, saying the incident occurred on public grounds and was related to a misunderstanding stemming from the parking matter. Law enforcement has launched an inquiry into the assault.
In an interview with CivilNet.am, Isakhanyan said that the Armenians were prepared to take legal action against the attackers. Meanwhile, church officials urged the Georgian media to stop the spread of anti-Armenian sentiments in the country, urging the Georgian Church and authorities to condemn the attack and take proper measures.
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tigran Balayan, said that Yerevan expects a thorough and unbiased investigation by the Georgian authorities.
The Holy See of Etchmiadzin issued a statement on June 21 expressing concern over the attacks and denouncing ethnic and religious intolerance.
Etchmiadzin said it expected the culprits to be prosecuted and urged Georgian authorities to guarantee the safety of Armenian citizens and the Armenian Church in Georgia.
Below is the interview with Levon Isakhanyan, conducted by CivilNet.am’s Harout Ekmanian:
Click here to view the embedded video.
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