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)