Georgian President Confirms Support for Church

During a recent visit to Kutaisi's ancient Cathedral of the Dormition, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili reiterated his government's support of the Georgian Orthodox Church, noting its assistance in the cathedral's renovation as well as the renovation of some 500 other Georgian Orthodox churches and monasteries. More here.

Georgia Encouraging Afrikaner Immigration

As part of its efforts to rebuild the Georgian economy the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili is encouraging disgruntled Afrikaner farmers from South Africa to immigrate to Georgia and start new lives there. There are already some Afrikaners who have moved to the country and even received citizenship. More here.

Georgian Legislation Discussed by Saakashvili, Catholicos Karekin During June Visit

The Armenian Orthodox Church has welcomed the legislation of the Georgian government to allow the registration of Georgia's minority religious organizations, which was recently signed into law by President Mikheil Saakashvili. The groundwork for the legislation was apparently laid during the visit last month of Catholicos-Patriarch Karekin II (Nersessian) of Echmiadzin with the Georgian president. More here.

Patriach Ilia Calls for Clemency from the Georgian Government

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (Gudushauri-Shiolashvili) of the Georgian Orthodox Church has called on the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili to be merciful to the members of opposition parties detained after the recent Independence Day demonstrations in Tbilisi. During the breakup of the demonstrations earlier this week Patriarch Ilia blessed clergy to shelter supporters of the opposition in a church near the Georgian Parliament. More here.

Anti-Saakashvili Protesters Dispersed, Arrested in Tbilisi

The Georgian police have dispersed protesters at Independence Day celebrations in Tbilisi at the urging of controversial President Mikheil Saakashvili. Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (Gudushauri-Shiolashvili) of the Georgian Orthodox Church did not attend the parades that were held following the incident, in which one died, many were injured, and others were detained by the police. More here.

Armenians in Georgia Call for Genocide Recognition

Representatives of southeastern Georgia's large Armenian minority have called on the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili to recognize the Armenian Genocide. More here.

Council of Europe Criticizes Georgia for Human Rights Abuses

A draft report of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has criticized the government of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for human rights abuses in the aftermath of the 2008 invasion of South Ossetia by Georgia. More here.

Georgian Opposition Done with Saakashvili

The Georgian opposition claims to be organizing a revolution to overthrow the regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili by this summer. More here.

Ilia II Calls for Dialogue Between Georgian and Russian Presidents

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili) of Mtskheta and Tbilisi has urged the Presidents of Georgia and Russia to begin a dialogue with one another to resolve the issues between the two countries and prevent them from growing even further apart. More here.

Georgian Orthodox Church Objects to Restoration Agreement with Turkey

The Georgian Orthodox Church is pressuring the Georgian government not to approve a deal with the Turkish government to repair four Georgian Orthodox religious monuments in Turkey in return for the rebuilding or restoration of historic mosques in Georgia, saying that it is unfair that the mosques should go under Muslim ownership whilst the churches remain the property of the Turkish government. President Mekhail Saakashvili supports the agreement, saying that it is better for the monuments to be preserved than that nothing be done and they become completely ruined. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğl is due to visit Georgia later this week. More here.

Saakashvili Visiting Armenia

President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia is on a state visit to neighboring Armenia in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries, resolve the issue of the Armenian minority in southeastern Georgia and the status of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Georgia, and discuss recent problems in Russian-Georgian and Turkish-Georgian relations. More here.

Saakashvili Visits Armenian Church

In an effort to shore up the support of Georgia's remaining ethnic minorities for his government President Mikheil Saakashvili has attended an Armenian Orthodox Theophany service and expressed his congratulations to the substantial Armenian minority in southeast Georgia and to Armenians throughout the world. More here.

Pictured is President Saakashvili in the Holy Echmiadzin Armenian Orthodox church in Avlabari, a district of Tbilisi.