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Georgian and Azerbaijani law enforcement officers held a meeting near the disputable territory of the David Gareji Monastery yesterday to discuss the incident that took place between locals and Azerbaijani border guards on July 14, Civil.ge reported.

The source cites media reports saying an altercation between locals and Azerbaijani border guards erupted after the latter took the icons out of the Udabno caves located on the disputable territory and handed them over to the Georgian border guards. Locals demanded the return of icons to their previous location.

Teimuraz Kupatadze, deputy chief of the Georgian Border Police, told reporters after the meeting that the icons placed in the Udabno caves were being damaged by rain and wind. According to him, the Azerbaijani side explained that to avoid blaming Azerbaijani border guards for damaging the icons, it was decided to hand them over to their Georgian counterparts.

Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts also discussed the issue of restricting movement on the disputable section of the border. Teimuraz Kupatadze noted that the restriction imposed on the movement after the yesterday’s incident would last for several days. “In coming days, the situation will return to its previous frames and citizens, prayers and tourists will enjoy freedom of movement on the territory,” he added.