Israeli Ambassador to Georgia Ran Gidor said that 'the head of the Kutaisi Holy Trinity Cathedral, Deacon Ilia Karkadze, spewed a number of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories' and Metropolitan bishop of the Kutaisi and Gaenati dioceses also held a controversial sermon, which is why the ambassador called upon the Georgian government to condemn similar views and statements.
"Precisely a week ago, I expressed my hope and desire that friendship between the Georgian and Hebrew people would have proved as strong as always, and anti-Semitism, racism, and extremism has no place in Georgia.
Unfortunately, however, my expectations were left unmet, as on 4 January, Monday, the head of the Kutaisi Holy Trinity Cathedral, Deacon Ilia Karkadze, spewed a number of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, with some of them reminding us of the most bloody accusations and anti-Jewish propaganda of the 1930s in Europe.
Less than two weeks after those anti-Semitic statements by Karkadze, Metropolitan bishop of the Kutaisi and Gaenati dioceses and a member of the Holy Synod, Ioane Gamrekeli, delivered an excessively controversial sermon, part of which may be understood as anti-Semitism.
I have been long enough in this incredible country to be confident that the vast majority of Georgians do not share these terrible views. Georgians deserve to be known as hospitable people globally. Precisely for this reason, successful Hebrew society has dwelt in Georgia for more than two thousands years, and they have felt anti-Semitism in this country far less than in the majority of other countries worldwide," the Israeli Ambassador said and expressed complete confidence that the Georgian authorities will take all measures to stop the emergence of anti-Semitism in the country.
