Georgian theologians doubt investigators' information about attempt on Ilia II

Georgy Mamaladze, suspected of an assassination attempt on Ilia II, had no ambitions to claim for the patriarchal throne. This opinion was voiced by Georgian theologians interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". They treat the investigators' version as doubtful.

On February 12, a source of the "Rustavi-2" TV Channel reported an attempt of poisoning of Patriarch Ilia II, who on February 2 went to a Berlin clinic for a regular examination. Georgy Mamaladze, the chief of the property management service for the Patriarchate of Georgia, was detained at the Tbilisi airport when he intended to leave for Germany. According to the Georgian Prosecutor's Office, law enforcers found cyanide and weapons in his luggage.

Theologian Levan Abashidze believes that the possible attempt of poisoning "could not be caused by the desire to take the patriarchal throne." According to the theologian, after 40 days, "the synod composed of all active bishops will elect a new patriarch." "That requires the discussion and the consent of all the members of the Synod," emphasized Levan Abashidze.

According to Teimuraz Tumanishvili, the head of the Georgian Constitutional Democratic Association, Georgy Mamaladze "would get no benefit from the Patriarch’s assassination."

In fact, in Georgia, the church "represents the state," believes Simon Kopadze, Vice-Rector of the Institute of Georgian-Caucasian Strategic Studies. According to him, "if the assassination attempt on the Patriarch would have taken place, then it could provoke a civil war."

However, Levan Abashidze believes that "a scandal occurred because of the clash of material interests."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.