Baku political analysts disclose beneficiaries of problems around "David Gareja"

The situation around the "David Gareja" Monastery Complex is being aggravated by forces seeking to undermine the strategic partnership between the two countries, believe Azerbaijani political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Azerbaijani border guards took icons from the Udabno temple in the "David Gareja" Monastery Complex. That led to a conflict which occurred between the Azerbaijani border guards and the Georgian activists on July 14.

The question around the "David Gareja" Monastery Complex is being artificially aggravated, and third forces with interests in the region will benefit from that, believes Zalimkhan Mamedli, the head of the "Borchaly" community of Azerbaijanis born in Georgia.

"In Georgia, they sometimes succumb to provocations and take actions aimed at undermining the strategic partnership between the two countries," Zalimkhan Mamedli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Among the examples of such unfriendly steps against Azerbaijan, Zalimkhan Mamedli mentioned the construction in Georgia last winter of the monument to the participant of the Karabakh war, considered in Azerbaijan as involved in crimes against the civilian population.

Togrul Juvarly, a member of the Azerbaijan National Public Committee for European Integration (ANPCEI), believes that the July 14 incident should be a signal to the Georgian authorities.

"Those actions actually put Georgia on the threshold of a conflict with Azerbaijan, with which the country has close energy and transport ties. Azerbaijan is the largest investor in Georgia. Breaking relations with Azerbaijan will damage both sides," Togrul Juvarli told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 16, 2019 at 11:33 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.