For Immediate Release
September 25, 2002

US Commission strongly condemns religious violence in republic of Georgia

WASHINGTON, DC—"There can be no excuse for state toleration of such barbarity!" exclaimed Representative Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He made the statement during a hearing held here yesterday regarding the former Soviet republic after viewing a five-minute video of attacks by religious extremists against Jehovah's Witnesses.

"How long will the Government of Georgia allow the ugliness of unrestrained mob violence to continue?" asked Senator Gordon Smith in a prepared statement. "I believe that average Georgians would welcome the sight of police officers acting pro-actively. Rule of law is one of the most tangible benefits a government can provide its people."

In his prepared statement, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell commented regarding the religious extremists who carry out these attacks: "Whatever difficulties might ensue from the arrest, indictment and sentencing of these criminals, allowing them to continue targeting innocent believers of another confession is an even greater threat to Georgian democracy and, indeed, stability."

Representative Steny H. Hoyer wrote: "It is frankly mystifying to me why the assaults continue. Is Georgia's Government incapable of acting against hooligans who attack defenseless members of another faith? Or even worse, is Georgia's Government unwilling to protect all its citizens, as Georgia's law and OSCE commitments demand?"

Speaking regarding hateful and radical assaults on religious minorities as reminiscent of Germany in the 1930s, Co-Chairman Smith was also critical of comments made on February 10, 2002, by Metropolitan Atanase, the second-highest cleric of the Orthodox Church in Georgia, who called for war on minority religions.

Georgian Ambassador Levan Mikeladze also testified before the Commission. He admitted that it was difficult to speak of progress in the field of human rights after viewing the video footage of attacks on Jehovah's Witnesses, which included pictures of injured men, women, children and the elderly as well as scenes of destroyed property. Of this situation Co-Chairman Smith said: "It must end, and it must end now."

Media contact: J. R. Brown, telephone (718) 560-5600