TBILISI, July 26 (RIA Novosti) - Patriarchate of Georgia has opposed an international music festival in Anaklia, warning citizens of "grave consequences" for those who visit it, the agency News-Georgia reported.
It is unacceptable to hold KaZantip or Anaklia in “our blessed country,” which keeps holy relics, the patriarchate said in a statement issued on Saturday.
"It is because of unruliness that many tourists from different countries visit KaZantip / Anaklia. They are drawn by massive orgies and dissolute behavior, not by music and a cultural event, and even less by desire to rebirth our country," the statement said.
As stated by the patriarchate, "any kind of participation in this festival and its support will bring grave consequences to individuals and the country as a whole."
"The Church, taking care of the spiritual children, is obliged to warn the population of Georgia," the patriarchate said.
KaZantip is one of the largest festivals of electronic music in the former Soviet Union. Since the mid-1990s, it has been held in Crimea at the end of the summer. Despite an official ban on drugs at KaZantip, security forces have to deal with people using substances there all the time. Earlier, it was reported that a Georgian version of the KaZantip is to be held in the resort town of Anaklia in August.
