'Tsulukiani can not and will not be responsible for the problems from 2008 to March 2021', says Tsulukiani regarding Gelati Monastery Complex
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, September 23, 2022
The Minister of Culture and Sports of Georgia Tea Tsulukiani, during the speech at the plenary session of the Parliament in the format of "Minister's Hour" when asked regarding the Gelati monastery complex, said that she refuses to answer what happened before March 2021:
"I refuse to answer what happened before March 2021. The Minister of Culture Tsulukiani can not and will not be responsible for the problems from 2008 to March 2021," said Tsulukiani.
According to her, she only takes responsibility for what is carried out in the monastery complex under the conditions of his ministry.
"The threat was not to the complex, but to one part of the main temple named after the Mother of God, namely the western and northern arms. These problems started in 2008 and continued until December 2020.
For years it posed a serious threat to the western and northern wings of the main temple. Our ministry was formed in March 2021, so I refuse to answer what happened before March 2021. From 2008 to March 2021, the Minister of Culture, Tsulukiani can not and will not be responsible for this," said Thea Tsulukiani.
Tea Tsulukiani, during her speech at the plenary session also talked about the reforms that were carried out. She said that a serious reform has been carried out in the monument protection system. To quote Minister Tsulukiani, "some people call it 'repression,' both start with "R" and that's okay,".
According to her, the reform carried out means that the people who remained in the system despite nepotism and ignorance will say goodbye to the ministry.
"Court proceedings are underway. The decision on 4 cases has already been made and all 4 decisions are in favor of the Ministry - the reinstatement has been refused.
I have no criteria, except for a few important criterias - these are professionalism, hardworking. No wonder when we've told some people to go where there's a tree growing on the monument, they were just too lazy to go.
I am very ashamed to have to talk about this, but I cannot work like this and I will not apologize for it, when I am not lazy at work, but I have an employee who is lazy at work and at the interview, they tell me that the state is obliged to finance. Such a system cannot be the one that takes care of Gelati and other monuments.
The criteria, in addition to professionalism and determination, is that a person must have professional and other skills in order to perform the work for which they are employed," said Tsulukiani.
