Ilia II Calls on Russian President to Settle Situation in Tskhinvali Region

Tbilisi. Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia
II, sent a letter to Russian President, Vladimir Putin, in which he expressed
concern over shifting the administrative boundary line between Tshinvali region
and the rest of Georgia by the Russian border guards.

According to the Georgian Foreign
Minister, Russian border guards installed barbed wire fences near Ditsi
village, Gori district and Dvani village, Kareli district, bordering Tskhinvali
region (breakaway region of Georgia). 
Earlier, the ministry said that barbed wire had been drawn in Didi
Khurvaleti, Gugutiantkari, Kvemo Nikozi, Tamarasheni, Dvani and Atotsi
villages, which did not allow the population to carry out agricultural works.
As official Tbilisi reported, shifting of dividing line on certain sections
deep into the territory of Georgia had been also observed.

"We express our concern over shifting
of Georgia's temporary border by the Russian soldiers at the village of Ditsi,
Gori district. This is a very unexpected and painful action for our people,
especially amidst our countries' attempts to normalize relations and which is
not easy to implement for us because of a difficult political situation in
Georgia," reads the letter.

"We hope that you will make a right
assessment of the existing situation and take appropriate measures to timely
sectify the situation," reads Georgian Patriarch's letter.