The administration of the Muslims of Georgia under the guidance of mufti Jamal Bagshadze was formed this week, with the purpose to establish control over the activity of Islamic communities and mosques in the country.

The move signaled that Georgia’s Muslims are going on their own master, to avoid supervision from Baku, Kavkaz Online reported.

According to the 2002 census, there are 284 thousand Shiite Azeris in Georgia. Besides, 376 thousand Sunni Azeris reside in Ajaria. Georgia is also a home for Chechens, Tatars, Lezgins and Avars.