Georgian Civil Resistance Movement held protests at the Kashveti
Church in the center of Tbilisi today, demanding reconsideration of
the status of religious unions.
The Georgian Parliament passed amendments to the Civil Code on
Tuesday, giving a legal status to religious unions.
Hundreds of members of the Resistance Movement started protests.
One of their leaders Soso Manjavidze said that they want President
Mikheil Saakashvili to veto the law until June 15. They demand the
Georgian church to be given a status of state religion.
The Resistance Movement called for protests at the Rustaveli Monument
in Tbilisi on July 17 at 15.00.
Amendments in the Civil Code affects only 5 religious unions.
Discontent of the church and opposition was followed by changes. A
concordat may only be formed with the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Georgian Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II urged the parliament to halt
adoption of the amendments.
The Christian Democrats' Party refused to take part in the parliament
voting as a protest.
