Vandals have struck the Jewish cemetery in the seaside town of Batumi, painting swastikas and burning kindling on the gravestones – The Messenger reports.

Local police are investigating the incident, but have no suspect as of this time.

Israeli Ambassador to Georgia Shabtai Tsur said the incident was unprecedented and won’t spoil relations.

“Nothing like this has ever happened during the time our people have lived in Georgia. I believe in the Georgian people, and believe this incident will not change anything in our relationship with Georgians,” Tsur told reporters yesterday, adding that he hopes the vandals are caught and punished.

Georgian human rights ombudsman Sozar Subari said it is the first incident of anti-Semitism he can recall in Georgia, and demanded police investigate swiftly and fully.

(YWN – Lipas)