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Ilia II believes in return of refugees to Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Georgia Materials 29 July 2013 13:38 (UTC +04:00)

Georgia, Tbilisi, July 29 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II hopes that the promises about the return of refugees to Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be fulfilled by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Patriarch Kirill has promised me that in the near future he will prepare a document that will consider the problem of Christianity in Abkhazia and the so called South Ossetia, and this document will be also supported by the president of Russia," Ilya II said during his interview to the Georgian Channel 9.

According to him, President Putin told the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill that the issue of refugees from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region will be considered separately, and special attention will be paid to this.

"They have promised me. By this the return of our refugees to their homes should start and all should be done for this. Putin is likely to fulfill his promise," Ilya II said.

A meeting of the heads of local churches with President Putin was held on July 25.

Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.

Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.

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