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Ivanishvili says church should be independent from state

Netgazeti reports that Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili does not think the patriarchate had opposed the state with the counter rally on May 17 when a couple of days earlier, Ivanishvili stated about the necessity for protecting the rights of sexual minorities.

The PM said in response to Netgazeti on May 21 that the church is independent and its independence from the state should be strengthened. “But if any clergy violated the law they are equally responsible as any ordinary citizen,” Ivanishvili said, adding that the video footage released via TV showed how several priests were also active on May 17.

Ivanishvili said if the investigation reveals the guilt of these people they will pay for that, but otherwise, he said the state will not by all means oppose to the church. “God save us from that!” he said.



Tbilisi Book Festival starts on May 23rd

Netgazeti reports that the 15th book festival will open in Tbilisi. The festival will last from May 23 to 26 at Expo Georgia where 66 publishing houses, book distribution companies, bookstores and international organizations will participate in the fair.

The festival will be held with support of the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection and include the presentation of books and public readings, question and answer sessions with publishers and other small events. The catalogue of the festival will be presented on May 23 on Machabeli Street.

The literature portal librivivi.ge will also be presented at Cafe Ligamus on Thursday, followed by other activities in the frames of the festival.

The festival will be closed with a Night of Poetry on May 26 where modern Georgian poets will participate.