The Georgian Culture Ministry issued the UNESCO report on the Gelati Monastery Complex on Thursday. Minister Tea Tsulukiani stated that the result is not final since some sections or factual situations may be clarified under UNESCO procedural guidelines.

According to the Minister, “Gelati’s problems are mainly linked to the roof, installed in 2015-2018. The report also confirmed that the water had been leaking into the temple until 2020. Nika Antidze, the ex-Head of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, was in charge of the processes at the time.”

“UNESCO recommends the Ministry that the works that were completely suspended in October 2022 (which was not the Ministry’s decision) be resumed as soon as possible in accordance with the programme presented by the Ministry and that the recommendations proposed in the conclusion be taken into account during the program’s implementation.

The UNESCO study does not propose replacing the acting team of specialists working in this area. On the contrary, many acts or decisions performed by them are viewed as “healthy”, “Inevitably essential”, and “right”.

Of course, recommendations have been issued, which is a work process rather than a political one. Unfortunately, each topic in our nation is politicised, but this is not acceptable with regard to the monument,” the Minister went on.

Tsulukiani further stated that UNESCO is critical of no action plan for the Complex management. UNESCO positively evaluated the roof opening on the western arm of the main temple in May 2021, in accordance with the advice of Italian experts and its method. Moreover, UNESCO advises the state to do so in other areas of the roof.