Gigi Tsereteli: The Adenauer Foundation’s departure is a serious message and will further complicate relations with Germany - regarding the Moscow Patriarchate delegation, we should understand who these people are - I do not think a bishop who blesses a tank is serving God

“We know very well what kind of relationship the Russian Patriarchate has with the Kremlin and Putin, and what kind of prayers it offers – sometimes they bless tanks, sometimes missiles. I understand that there are active and deep ties with some representatives of the Georgian Church, if not all of them. Everyone should understand who these people are and whom and what they represent. I think many of them do not serve God; that is my view.

“As for whether they came with political assignments, this cannot be ruled out. I am not getting into conspiracy theories, but I do not think that a priest or bishop who blesses a tank or missile so that lives can be destroyed is serving God. I am speaking in general terms.”

The departure of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation from a country of this type, which is undergoing a democratic transition, is politically a scandal and a serious message, Gigi Tsereteli, chairman of European Georgia, said while appearing on PalitraNews’ program Dghis Newsroom, commenting on the decision to close the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Tbilisi.

According to Tsereteli, the decision will further complicate Georgia’s relations with Germany.

“The result of 14 years of democratic transformation is that one of Europe’s most democratic foundations, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is leaving Georgia. It was precisely the conflicts that prompted it to take such a step, meaning that there will no longer be an office in Georgia, while it will remain in Armenia and other countries. The societies and people there will receive the benefits that the German government funds in this case. These benefits include bilateral relations and support for education and democracy.

“The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is the largest German foundation associated with a particular political family, the CDU, Germany’s governing party. The foundation has been operating here for more than 20 years, and I am sure that many representatives of the Georgian Dream have also benefited from various programs of this foundation.

“It assists Georgia in areas that represent Germany’s priorities, including judicial reform, democratic transformation, European integration and closer ties with Europe. When this foundation operates freely in Georgia, it means that the environment is favorable and appropriate. It also reflects the attitude of the German government.

“The departure of this foundation from a country of this type, which is undergoing a democratic transition, is politically a scandal and a serious message. This will further complicate our relations with Germany. In general, it will be another indication of the results that exist in the country in terms of democratic transformation and even integration with the West.

“Today, after 14 years of government, this is a very painful but clear example. European foundations leaving Georgia – what does all of this indicate? Do I not want to see this progress? I very much do, but this progress is not visible,” Tsereteli said.

Tsereteli also discussed the visit of a delegation from the Moscow Patriarchate to the Patriarchate of Georgia. He said that if the result of the visit is an improvement in the situation concerning the rights of citizens in the occupied territories, it cannot be criticized. At the same time, he said, “Russia uses everything for its own benefit.”

“Russia uses everything for its own benefit and to demonstrate through propaganda that it is not only tourists who travel there, but that there are relations at every level. We know very well what kind of relationship the Russian Patriarchate has with the Kremlin and Putin, and what kind of prayers it offers – sometimes they bless tanks, sometimes missiles.

“I understand that there are active and deep ties with some representatives of the Georgian Church, if not all of them. Everyone should understand who these people are and whom and what they represent. I think many of them do not serve God; that is my view.

“As for whether they came with political assignments, this cannot be ruled out. I am not getting into conspiracy theories, but I do not think that a priest or bishop who blesses a tank or missile so that lives can be destroyed is serving God. I am speaking in general terms.

“If these ties and relations are used to genuinely change the rights of our citizens in the occupied territories, to change the situation concerning religious services and so on, then this certainly cannot be criticized. However, I do not know what result or outcome this could have. So far, everything is the opposite.

“This concerns our churches there, as well as the issue of recognition of the Ukrainian Church, which is not a new topic and is important to Russia. Naturally, the people involved in this should be thinking about this,” Tsereteli said.