Tea Tsulukiani, the candidate for Minister of Culture and Sports of Georgia stated that she is unaware of the current situation at the Gelati Monastery after handing over the rehabilitation responsibilities to the Patriarchate.
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“People talk a lot about Gelati here. I am telling you frankly that I cannot answer for what I'm not involved in. It’s so sad that since October 3, 2022, we've been instructed, receiving an official letter from the owner, to cease all operations at Gelati. Therefore, I don't know what the situation has been like since then. My responsibility spans from May 2021 to October 3, 2022.
We possess dated photos, videos, and scan results depicting the monument's condition during the handover process. In the years to come, this documentation can be compared with the monument's current state. And then, by the principle of raising two ears, the "bunny" will be able to guess who did what and who failed to do what,” said Tsulukiani during her speech at the committee hearing in Parliament and emphasized that the processes that caused the damage to the unique frescoes in the Gelati started back in 2008.
“Regrettably, the project developed in 2008 was flawed from its inception, and this flaw persisted throughout its implementation. And then we strengthened the complex. We subsequently reinforced the structure, halted water infiltration, and enhanced the drying process based on recommendations from UNESCO. UNESCO is scheduled to visit the site this year, and upon their assessment, we will ascertain the current situation. As of now, I lack that knowledge. “I don't know” - means I don't know, it doesn't mean anything good or bad. I just don't know. When I possess information, I’m responsible for it with my head, blood, and flesh, but when I lack knowledge, I'm forthright about it,” stated the minister, concluding his speech with a cautionary note:
“I’m going to, and my employees have the same task, that any public statement of anyone who slanders us, that we are currently mangling something there, will end up in court. I refuse to tolerate such accusations any longer.”
The unique frescoes in the main temple of the Gelati monastery complex, dating back to the 12th century, are undergoing destruction due to water infiltration. In January 2023, the Giorgi Chubinashvili National Research Center of Georgian Art History and Monument Protection, under the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection, published a critical and alarming report on the frescoes' damage. Within the report, several facts indicating signs of a criminal offense have been identified, yet as of now, no one has been held accountable.
