Human Rights Watch Welcomes Conviction of Assailant Ex-Priest

On February 1, The Human Rights Watch said that the Georgian government ?has taken an important step towards ending impunity for religious violence? by convicting the defrocked Orthodox priest Basil Mkalavishvili, who was responsible for violent attacks against religious minorities from 1999 to 2003.

Mkalavishvili, who was found guilty of masterminding and carrying out organized violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses and Baptist-Evangelists and burning their religious literature, was sentenced to six years imprisonment on January 31. His closest ally, Petre Ivanidze, was sentenced to four years imprisonment, while one of his followers received one year.

?One of the worst perpetrators of violence against religious minorities in Georgia has finally been brought to justice? We hope that this is just the beginning of a clear policy against tolerance of violence and discrimination on account of faith,? Rachel Denber, acting executive director of the Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch, said.