Azernews.Az

Chairman of Adjara's government Archil Habadze promised the Muslim community that the minaret in Chela village of Adigen district of Georgia (Samtskhe-Javakheti) will be restored.

Last night, Habadze met with believers in the Batumi mosque. He assured the people that Bidzina Ivanishvili declared his support to the Muslim community expressing the hope that this question will be solved on time.

"As is known, the investigation is carried out. Those who are guilty will be punished. All efforts will be made for early completion of the expert help and return of the minaret," he said.

Clashes erupted between local residents and police last Monday in Chela when Muslims tried in vain to prevent authorities from removing a 24-meter long minaret from a mosque in the village.

The minaret, brought in from Turkey, was assembled and attached to the mosque in Chela in July. But on August 20 a local city council (Sakrebulo) in Adigeni passed a decision according to which the minaret was constructed illegally without obtaining permission from the local authorities.

Sealing the village off by the police on August 26, there was a heavy police presence inside the village at the mosque as the authorities were disassembling the minaret amid protest of local Muslim community, according to local media reports.

During the clashes, 11 men arrested. The arrested were released later on Monday and Tuesday.

According to local Muslim leaders, the total population of Muslims in Georgia is around one million out of total 5 million.

However, government sources say that Muslim population is between 400,000 and 500,000.