Today a large march is planned to protect David Gareji. The clergy, pilgrims and civil activists plan to arrive there.
The Azerbaijanis are going to hold the march in Davit Gareji too. As it is known, Azerbaijan activists planned the march to celebrate Azerbaijan"s Independence Day.
The clergy are openly demanding to hold principal negotiations on the state level to protect the monastic complex from the government. During the whole night, civil activists, members of the anti-occupation movement
"Strength is in Unity" and guides were present at the site. As one of the leaders of "Strength is in Unity" says the government must do everything to make a compromise on the negotiations and do not damage the state interests.
"Yesterday the official Baku statement was that Davit Gareji is a sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. This is a very strong statement, which is naturally disturbing for Georgia. It sounds unfriendly from a friendly state. Today"s rally will be a sign not only for the Azeri but for our authorities to firmly defend our positions, to find a compromise, to do everything we can to avoid straining relations between the two countries but not at the expense of our state interests, "- Davit Katsarava said. Katsarava says that, according to the spread information, the Georgian law enforcers may not allow pilgrims to go to the monastery complex. Katsarava hopes that this will not happen. Lasha Berulava, one of the founders of the anti-occupation movement says that there is no clear information at this time whether Azerbaijanis have postponed the procession. Berulava hopes that the guards will open all the way to the monastery complex.