"Today, as we witness the brutal oppression of citizens, we must acknowledge that, in reality, all of Georgia is in ruins, regardless of one’s position. Violence of this magnitude against free citizens, along with its new manifestations, takes us back to a dark past. This serves as a warning that, if left unchecked, challenging times lie ahead for both the country and society as a whole," said Metropolitan Grigol (Berbichashvili) of Poti and Khobi.
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On December 8, during his Sunday sermon, Bishop Grigol stated that the controlled cruelty inflicted on people paves the way for uncontrolled public unrest, posing a grave challenge to the state, the people, and the Church.
"Recently, we heard about an initiative to declare Orthodoxy as the state religion and the notion of such a declaration. Does this not imply that a Christian state must uphold the God-given right of individuals to express their free will? That it must reject violence against free citizens and any attempts to suppress their free will? Ensuring this is the fundamental principle reflected in the theological and legal texts of Georgian Christian thought. Common sense compels us to adhere to the principles that form the foundation for the vitality and development of our society," said Metropolitan Grigol.
Since November 28, citizens have been protesting on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi against the suspension of negotiations on accession to the European Union by the Georgian Dream party. The demonstrations have been repeatedly dispersed using water cannons, tear gas, and other special measures. Special forces and masked individuals have arrested over 400 participants, raped hundreds of protesters, and physically assaulted media representatives. According to the Public Defender, the location, nature, and severity of the injuries inflicted "create a credible impression" that the police used violent methods against the demonstrators as a form of punishment, amounting to torture.
