CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 42

MANE BABAJANYAN Since 2014, the Armenian Diocese has embarked on activity over its ownership of Armenian churches by negotiating with the Georgian authorities. 92 The Right Rev. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, the previous Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, considers the problem of churches the most important challenge for the Diocese, which should be resolved primarily by law. 93 Currently, theArmenian Diocese is actively fighting for ownership of Tandoyants Church in Tbilisi. 94 In April 2018, the Georgian authorities started construction in the area of the church. Even the Georgian Ombudsman, Nino Lomjaria, strictly criticized this action, calling it a “discriminatory attitude toward the dominant religious group.” 95 Transit Transportation Taking into account the problematic nature of the Georgian military road that passes through the Upper Lars checkpoint, the literature urges the pursuit of an alternative. Back in 2017, Karen Karapetyan told journalists that he had reached an agreement with his Georgian counterpart on an alternative road to Lars, but he did not provide further details regarding the project. 96 However, this problem has not yet been solved, probably because it is not dependent on the Armenian side. Instead, it is rather a matter of Georgian-Russian bilateral relations. Today, the only alternative to Lars is the ferry route that passes through                                                                                                                                        Armenia, The Disputes Over the Armenian Churches in Georgia Have Intensified]”, Azatutyun Radiokayan, March 22, 2019, https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29835757.html. 92 “Virahayots Temi Arajnord: Yekeghetsineri Veradardzman Patet Knerkayatsvi Vrastanin [Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia Churches' return package to be presented to Georgia]”, Mediamax, November 18, 2014, https://www.mediamax.am/am/news/interviews/12321/. 93 Gevorgyan, A., “Vrastani Haykakan Hushardzanneri Khndiry Orensdrakan Lutsman Kariq Uni [The Problem of Armenian Monuments in Georgia Needs a Legislative Solution],” ArmRadio, November 1, 2018, https://hy.armradio.am/2018/11/01/georg-2/. 94 “Virahayots Temy Boghoqarkum e Tandoyants Surb Astvatsatsin Yekeghetsu Hartsov Tbilisii Qaghaqayin Datarani Kayatsrats Voroshumy [Georgian-Armenian Diocese Appeals to Tbilisi City Court on Tandoyants St. Virgin Church]”, Media Analytic Centre, March 20, 2019, mediaanalytic.org/2019/03/20/վիրահայոց-թեմը-բողոքարկում-է- թանդոյա/ 95 “Tandoyants Yekeghetsin Haykakan e - Vrastani Ombudsmen” [The Tandoyants Church is Armenian. Ombudsman of Georgia]”, News.1tv.am, April 5, 2018,   www.1lurer.am/hy/2018/04/05/Թանդոյանց-եկեղեցին-հայկական-է-Վրաստանի- օմբուդսմեն/88905. 96 “Hayastany yev Vrastany Hamadzaynutyan enYekel Verin Larsi Aylyntranqi Hartsi Shurj: Karen Karapetyan [Armenia And Georgia Agree On Upper Lars Alternative Karen Karapetyan]”, Armenpress, February 24, 2017, https://armenpress.am/arm/news/880153/. 42