On February 7, at the Bilmore Hotel Tbilisi, a presentation of the new project of the State Agency for Religions Issues, the photo album "Religions in Georgia" was held. The photo  album of this format was first published in Georgia. It contains the photos of religious buildings and biographies of the religious leaders of the religious organizations existing in Georgia – Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous  Orthodox Church, the Jewish community, Apostolic Administration of the Caucasus, the Muslim community, the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church, the Yazidi community, the Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist Church of Georgia, Tbilisi International Baptist Church, the Evangelical-Protestant Church, Evangelical Faith Church, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including the photos of the churches at the occupied territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

The presentation was attended by the leaders of the religious organizations, members of the parliament and government of Georgia, diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and experts.

Zaza Vashakmadze, the chairman of the State Agency for Religious Issues addressed the participants of the event and noted that the photo album reflected the ethnic and religious diversity of Georgia and emphasized the tolerance of our citizens towards different people. At the same time, the Chairman of the Agency underlined the situation in the occupied territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region where ethnic and religious persecution of the remaining population was taking place, all human rights were being violated including the right to freedom of movement, the right to  native language education and the right to exercise religious belief - "We are aware of many facts, when for example, the representatives of the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church move from  Zugdidi zone to the occupied Abkhazia, under the law of occupation, meet their parishioners and perform religious service. Neither Sokhumi nor Moscow have any problems with them. And this is a welcome fact, it should be so - even if there is any political conflict, people should be allowed to exercise faith and religion freely. Our particular concern is the fact that Georgian Orthodox Church and Georgian Orthodox people do not enjoy such a right. And what is it if not the ethnic-religious discrimination only against Georgians, only against Georgian Orthodox people, only against the clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church? What is it, if not the separation, segregation of Georgian Orthodox people on ethnic and religious grounds?” - said Vashakmadze.

The State Agency for Religious Issues will continue to implement the projects that will be directed towards harmonious coexistence and development of various religious groups in Georgia.