Skip to content
CAM-logo-2x
  • About
  • News
    • JAHM: Jewish American Heritage Month
  • Coalition
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Take Action
    • Donate
Menu
  • About
  • News
    • JAHM: Jewish American Heritage Month
  • Coalition
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Take Action
    • Donate

Studies & Reports

  • All
  • U.S.
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • JAHM
  • Interviews
  • MORE
    • Analysis
    • Government
    • Humanity
    • Online
    • Spotlight
    • Videos
Menu
  • All
  • U.S.
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • JAHM
  • Interviews
  • MORE
    • Analysis
    • Government
    • Humanity
    • Online
    • Spotlight
    • Videos

Antisemitism on the Rise in South Caucasus Nation of Georgia, New Tolerance and Diversity Institute Report Says

  • March 17, 2022
Share Tweet Share Follow Follow Email Print

Antisemitism is on the rise in the South Caucasus nation of Georgia, according to a new report published by the Tbilisi-based Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI).

“As Russia wages war in Ukraine, the step-up in the activity of pro-Russian violent extremist groups has taken an alarming dimension in Georgia,” the report said. “Appalling incidents of antisemitism have been reported. Also, several Georgian Orthodox clergymen have made hateful antisemitic statements that echo the messages coming from the Russian Patriarchate.”

The report noted that “unidentified fascist groups have launched an alarming antisemitic campaign against the late Vitaly Safarov, a young human rights defender killed on ethnic and antisemitic grounds in 2018, and his family.”

Earlier this month, the report said, “Vitaly Safarov’s mother became a target of antisemitic hate assault via social networks.”

“She received several phone messages of fascist and xenophobic nature from unidentified senders,” it added. “In parallel, a number of antisemitic profiles and pages have appeared on Facebook, using photos of deceased Safarov and spreading fascist, antisemitic messages, including calls to annihilate Jews.”

The report also detailed an antisemitic vandalization incident last month in which Nazi swastikas were spray-painted by unidentified perpetrators on the wall of the Jewish cemetery in Tbilisi’s Isani-Samgori District.

Furthermore, the report said, “Antisemitic statements of high-ranking clergymen of the Georgian Orthodox Church have taken an alarming dimension since 2020… Neither the Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarchate nor the government adequately criticized and condemned those antisemitic statements.”

On March 6th, for example, Orthodox Church clergyman Khareba Chikovani shared a Facebook post in which the author wrote, “Many of you must have watched the interview with a Jewish billionaire politician Igor Berkut recorded in 2017, in which he speaks about a project, New Israel. According to the project, the population of Ukraine shall be cut down to 5 million. Numerous discussions of this theory can be found on YouTube (old videos). What a coincidence. Zelensky is also a Jew and has close ties with Masons.”

And on February 27th, Giorgi Samsonadze, a Mtskheta-Tbilisi Eparchy priest, shared a Facebook post blaming the conflict in Ukraine on Jews with “curls.”

“In parallel with Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the Kremlin actively employs soft power — the Orthodox Church, media, and various civic groups to spread its propaganda messages,” the TDI report said. “Against these developments, openly violent, pro-Kremlin, xenophobic groups in Georgia, enjoying impunity despite violent acts committed by them, have stepped up their activity and pose a serious threat to the state security, sovereignty, and Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia.”

For more information on the Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI), please visit: tdi.ge/en

read more

Antisemitic Content Proliferates on Social Media on Week of 9/11 Attacks Anniversary

September 13, 2023

Through August, CAM Tracks Daily Average of 5.19 Antisemitic Incidents in 2023

September 11, 2023

Ten Most Shocking Antisemitic Incidents of August 2023

September 8, 2023

More News

Missouri Governor Proclaims Jewish American Heritage Month, Adopts IHRA Antisemitism Definition

September 20, 2023

CAM Set to Participate in Upcoming Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh

September 20, 2023

‘It Shows That I’m a Jew and I’m Hated for It’: Illinois Property Manager Receives Antisemitic Email From Former Tenant

September 20, 2023

Governor Kathy Hochul Announces Comprehensive Action to Fight Antisemitism in New York State

September 19, 2023

CAM Joins Call for UC Board of Regents to Reject Ethnic Studies Admissions Requirement Promoted by Anti-Zionist Faculty

September 19, 2023

CAM Welcomes Appointment of Elan Carr as Next CEO of Israeli-American Council

September 18, 2023

University of Pennsylvania Set to Host Palestinian Literature Festival Featuring Antisemitic Speakers

September 15, 2023

CAM Outlines Steps Social Media Companies Can Take to Counter Spread of Holocaust Denial Online

September 15, 2023

Antisemitic Content Proliferates on Social Media on Week of 9/11 Attacks Anniversary

September 13, 2023

Watch: CAM Welcomes 5784 With Festive Global Rosh Hashanah Celebration

September 12, 2023
CAM-logo-2x
  • About
  • News
  • Coalition
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Take Action
  • About
  • News
  • Coalition
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Take Action
  • About
  • News
  • Coalition
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Take Action
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube Tiktok
PRIVACY POLICY
donate-img
X