Radical Orthodox Faction Protests Against US Embassy

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 19, 2002) – Radical Orthodox faction led by excommunicated priest Basil Mkalavishvili held a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Tbilisi on August 19 protesting against the activity of ambassador Richard Miles.

The US embassy issued a statement on August 15 urging the Georgian authorities for preventing attacks against the religious minority groups. Basil Mkalavishvili is known with permanent attacks against Jehovah’s Witnesses.

On August 16 supporters of Mkalavishvili violently attacked gathering places of Jehovah’s Witnesses in towns of Kaspi and Gori in central Georgia.