Georgia to Appeal to International Organisations regarding Vandal Act towards Saint George Church of Ilori

Georgia’s Ministry of Culture will send an official letter to the international community and organizations with regard to the act of vandalism towards Saint George church of Ilori, in Ochamchire, Abkhazia . The letter will be sent to UNESCO culture heritage center, UN, British Consulate, diplomatic corps and international organizations, Nikoloz Rurua, Minister of Culture, has said at a briefing today. According to Rurua, international organizations should use all means to stop deliberate devastation of the Georgian historic and cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Georgia. The authenticity of the church of Ilori – one of the most conspicuous Georgian monument in Abkhazia –was completely desecrated as a result of maintenance work. The repair efforts were carried out with no regard for the characteristics of traditional Georgian architecture. A Russian-style dome was built on the temple. External façade with Georgian lapidary inscriptions have been white-washed, arches have been red-washed and a range of relief elements incompatible with Georgian style have been added to the architecture.