Georgian authorities granted status to the Armenian church to show their power to patriarchate and society, said Georgian expert Mamuka Areshidze.

According to him, this move can be conditioned also by pressure of the Armenian side which is explained in the Russian context by deepening of Armenian-Georgian relations.

“Georgian authorities are trying to find a common language with Russians with help of Armenian government. Another version is mutual concession – Georgian authorities want Armenians to recognize Genocide of Circassians,” he said in an interview with the Georgian MediaNews agency.

The expert stressed that tension in relations between the Georgian government and the Georgian Patriarchate has been observed so far.