The Georgian Patriarchate said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent explanation of how Georgia “engulfed” the currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions “has caused a negative reaction among our people.”
The Georgian Orthodox Church believes this should become “a challenge” to the Georgian government, scientists and every citizen to spread the word about the Georgian history in English, Russian and other foreign languages to the rest of the world.
The Patriarchate expressed its willingness to contribute to organizing conferences and meetings aimed to discuss “historic realities.”
Speaking with the Russian media earlier this week, Vladimir Putin said that South Ossetia joined the Russian Empire in the 18th century, while Abkhazia became a part of it in 1810.
Putin also said that “if the current Georgian authorities want to improve the relations with Abkhaz and South Ossetian people.”
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said in response to Putin’s account that “it is not the first time [that] Russia tries to fake history.”
– Source: agenda.ge