On February 2, 2010 representatives of the Armenian Community in Tbilisi addressed “Multinational Georgia” Public Movement. A video record, which proves that dogs are being kept on the territory of the temporarily non-functional Surb Nshan Armenian Church was submitted. This gives grounds for concern about sanitary and hygienic situation of the historic monument.

In 2007, Surb Nshan was given the status of cultural heritage, protected by the Ministry of Culture and Historical Monuments of Georgia.

The church is currently in terrible condition, with inner decoration destroyed and churchyard littered with debris. Conditions of the building unambiguously show that no repair or maintenance of the church was carried out. There is no sign warning about status of the Church and preventing barbarous conduct in relation to the monument. Monument is under authority of the Ministry of Culture and Historical Monuments, so members of Armenian community are unable to fulfill own citizens’ duties ensuring maintenance of the monument.

On the territory of the Church yard there are graves of many prominent persons, including Vasily Megvinov, Vice-Consul of Belgium, who died in year 1895. During many years marble grave-stone was abandoned and finally cracked. Applications of citizens asking for renovation were not taken into account. Grave-stone fell down. Concerned citizens suspect fact of vandalism.

All mentioned above inevitably draws the indignation of any citizen of multinational Georgia, any patriot of own city and country, any civilized person. There is also question of spending of the public funds allocated to the Ministry of Culture and Historical Monuments for the preservation and maintenance of them. The same applies to the position of the City Council of City of Tbilisi, which provides construction and renovation works at the buildings in the Old City District, which are not historical monuments, but ignores drastic conditions of the Surb Nshan.

On February 4, 2010, at 4 p.m., near the Surb Nshan Church, PMMG will hold an urgent meeting with the representatives of the Armenian community of the city of Tbilisi in order to discuss drastic conditions of the historic monument and attract public attention to the problem.

The Church of the Holy Seal (Surb Nshan) is an 18th century Armenian church in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. It was built between 1703 and 1711, and reconstructed in 1780.

Currently the church lies dilapidated and was recently partially destroyed by arson.