The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Mikheil Chkhenkeli addressed the participants of the international online conference "Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Occupied Territories: Georgia and International Experience".

The main goal of the conference was to protect the historical truth and to analyse the mechanisms of protection of cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Georgia by Russia by acquainting them with the existing experience in the international legal context.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli addressed the public, thanked the conference organizers and spoke about the steps taken by the Ministry to study the occupied territories of Georgia and the border regions of Georgia.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “Georgia's independence and territorial integrity are the cornerstone of our country's state development. During the current occupation, science and scientific research are the best and most effective means against attempts to falsify the history of Georgia. It is important that we turn to science to protect the historical truth and the cultural heritage of our country.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry promotes the development of scientific research in the occupied territories and border regions of Georgia, their approximation to international standards, the study of new ideas and facts, dissemination of research results, sharing experiences between different generations of researchers and integration of research in higher education.

 Mikheil Chkhenkeli noted that in 2021, for the first time, a competition for the support of scientific research projects in the field of Caucasology and international scientific events was announced, which aims to make Georgia the scientific centre of the Caucasus region again by promoting scientific research projects and international scientific events.

Additionally, a conference was held within the framework of the winner of the state grant competition for the support of scientific research projects in the occupied territories of Georgia and international scientific events, the leading organization of which is the Giorgi Chubinashvili National Research Center for Georgian Art History and Monument Protection. The partner organizations are: Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts and TSU Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology.

The conference was addressed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia Tea Tsulukiani, the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani, the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia Ruslan Abashidze, General Director Jaba Samushia, Director of Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts, Zaal Abashidze, Director of TSU Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology, Giorgi Cheishvili, UNESCO representatives, and foreign and Georgian scientists.