“People who have no genuine Georgian sentiments are attempting to attack the Church and interfere in its activities; this is completely unacceptable. This is how they tried to meddle in the Patriarchate’s affairs between 2003 and 2012,” stated MP Archil Gorduladze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.

According to him, externally funded forces are operating in Georgia with the clear aim of ensuring that no institution remains in the country that people trust and listen to.

“There are externally financed forces operating within Georgia, whose goal is to undermine the very foundations of the state, the Georgian Church. Their objective is to ensure that no institution exists that commands the trust and respect of the people. Should these foundations collapse, the institution in question would lose its essence and become easily controllable. This is precisely the aim of global forces. We vividly recall the past seventy years, during which representatives of the communist regime endeavoured to forge a uniform, new identity. Unfortunately, we are witnessing similar efforts today, driven by certain influential forces in many countries. Those who have no genuine Georgian sentiment are now trying to attack the Church, incite unrest, and interfere in its activities. This is simply unacceptable. They tried to interfere in the Patriarchate’s affairs during 2003-2012, and now, lacking that influence, they are attempting to sow discord through propaganda and slander,” Archil Gorduladze stated.