Opposition leader Dekanoidze criticises Iranian ambassador over comments on Queen Ketevan

United National Movement member Khatia Dekanoidze has criticised Iran’s ambassador to Georgia, Seyed Ali Moujani Ghomi, over his plans to publish research concerning Queen Ketevan, saying the diplomat’s approach was inappropriate given Georgia’s painful historical memory.

“This is not an action envisaged by diplomatic protocol or etiquette when an ambassador of a foreign country touches upon our very painful historical memory,” Dekanoidze said.

She described Moujani’s actions as reflecting what she called a “frivolous attitude” towards Georgia’s historical heritage, and accused the Georgian authorities of defending the Iranian ambassador rather than addressing concerns over Georgia’s history, traditions and the legacy of Queen Ketevan.

“Georgia’s historical heritage includes Queen Ketevan, who is certainly one of the most distinguished treasures of our history,” Dekanoidze said.

Moujani said on social media that he plans to publish the results of his preliminary research concerning Queen Ketevan, as well as documents and historical sources preserved in Iran and Georgia.

He stressed that the material would neither represent an official version nor constitute a claim to have the final word on Queen Ketevan’s history. He described it as his personal assessment at the current stage of his research, which could be supplemented, critically reviewed or revised on the basis of additional sources and joint research by Georgian and Iranian scholars.

Moujani also said that re-examining such historical narratives could provide an opportunity for Georgia and Iran to understand each other more deeply rather than simply return to the past.

Queen Ketevan, known as Ketevan the Martyr, was the queen of Kakheti in eastern Georgia and the mother of King Teimuraz I. She was held captive in Persia and was executed in Shiraz in 1624 after refusing to renounce Christianity. She is venerated as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church