Irina Enukidze’s Priest States He Is Threatened with Seizing Property

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Shida Kartli

Father Grigol Gogichadze living in Variani village in Gori district blames local senior officials, including MPs and leader of Gori Eparchy Bishop Andria, in his persecution. Father Grigol Gogichadze spoke about it with the representative of Human Rights Center’s Gori office. Deacon Giorgi Karelidze of Gori Eparchy said statements of the Father Grigol are slanderous.

Priest of Irina Enukidze, mother of the killed Sandro Girgvliani, settled in Variani village in 1990s. Based on the request of local population Patriarch sent the clergyman to the village. Since Bishop Andria became Mitropolit of Gori and Samtavisi Eparchy, local resident Father Tadeoz became the leader of the village church. After that part of villagers opposed Father Grigol and threatened him with the seizure of property. Father Grigol said local priest Father Tadeoz stands behind those people and all of them are supported by Bishop Andria.

“Based on the Patriarch’s blessing, clergymen were sent to settle in the villages, start farming and employ local inhabitants. I started construction of the farm which was burnt two years ago. Then I wanted to start a trout farm but they do not allow me. On May 6, 2013 my house was burnt. Bishop Andria stands behind all these; he has been fighting against me long time. They do not leave me alone. Now they want to seize my plot, which I registered in 2010. Bishop Andria demanded the plot claiming it belongs to the Church,” Father Grigol (Gogichadze) said.

Deacon of the Gori Eparchy Giorgi (Karelidze) said it is slander to mention Bishop Andria’s name in this controversy. He said Father Grigol has problems with villagers and he should better settle those problems with them.

“Leader of the Gori Eparchy, Bishop Andria tried to resolve this problem several times. A lot of complaints were filed against Father Grigol to our Eparchy; people even petitioned to the Patriarchate. Our attitude towards this case is the following – Father Grigol shall settle relation with locals. The land the villagers argue him about was assigned to the Church by village governor years ago; however, somehow the land became property of the Father Grigol. Despite that all, Bishop Andria had never demanded the land. Let Father Grigol keep it but he should personally resolve problems with locals,” Deacon Giorgi said.

Father Grigol (Gogichadze) said part of villagers was encouraged to oppose him during the governance of the United National Movement. It was time when Sandro Girgvliani was killed by senior officials of the MIA in 2006. His mother Irina Enukidze held assemblies together with her supporters and requested punishment of perpetrators. After Irina Enukidze’s death, Father Grigol started prayers to bless her soul. “Representatives of the UNM won clergymen over and made them against me. They have been persecuting me for so long time and do not leave me alone. Officers of Special Forces even tried to crash me but I survived,” Father Grigol said.

After Parliamentary Elections of October 1, 2012 local government was changed. Davit Razmadze from Republic Party occupied position of the chairman of Gori municipal board; Soso Vakhtangashvili from the National Forum was elected majoritarian MP from the Georgian Dream. After Father Grigol’s house was burnt on May 6 and blamed Bishop Andria in it, parish of the Gori Eparchy and society gathered in the hall of Gori Cinema. MP and chairman of the Municipal Board made speeches at the meeting; they said Father Grigol was not honest person. Davit Razmadze said Father Grigol fled from his native village in 1990s where locals wanted to hail him. However, Human Rights Center visited Atskuri village in Akhmeta district and locals said it is wrong information. They said, the clergyman left village after one of their neighbors killed Father Grigol’s brother. “In order to avoid the revenge, Father Grigol left the village, made a speech at the trial and forgave the crime to the murderer,” clergyman’s neighbors told HRC.

Father Grigol calls upon the local inhabitants to keep calm and suggest not to interfere in the affair of the clergymen. “If we have something to settle, the Patriarchate is in charge to interfere in it. Public servants can remind us something but their statements and accusations will farther aggravate their position,” Father Grigol said.