Most Georgians disapprove of cutting ties with Russia - priest

01 September 2008, 10:42

Moscow, September 1, Interfax - Georgia's decision to cut diplomatic relations with Russia runs against the will of the majority of Georgians, the chief priest of the Georgian parish in Moscow said.

"Of course, the Georgians do not want relations with Russia to be severed. Not always do the authorities of a country represent the will of the majority. I think that this [Georgia's decision to sever diplomatic relations with Russia] is a case in point," priest Fyodor Krechetov of the Church of the Holy Martyr George the Conqueror, told the Interfax-Religion.

Georgia's move "will create difficulties for people who are not to blame for any of that, both Russians and Georgians," Fr. Fyodor said.

The priest expressed the desire that "the media in Russia and in Georgia stop painting enemy images."

"The Church believes in man's Divine image, that he seeks friendship and love and not hostility and separation," he said.

The cleric expressed the hope that "eventually common sense and goodwill will be triumphant" in Russian-Georgian relations.

The priest also said his Georgian parishioners "are agitated and fear being deported from Russia."

He slammed Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for "behaving in an unseemly and undignified way."

"I think that the majority of Georgians are against any problems being dealt with by unleashing war," Fr. Fyodor said.

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