For the past 40 years, the Patriarch has been a symbol of the past, present and future of our country. I have repeatedly mentioned the church as the connecting force that brings our statehood together, – Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said in response to the journalist’s question regarding the statements of Archbishop Jacob.

The Prime Minister said that he was hearing Archbishop Jacob’s statements for the first time and that he was shocked. “I remember this Archbishop saying he would overthrow me in case of my appointment to the PM’s post.

If you want serious comments, for the past 40 years, the Patriarch has been a symbol of the past, present and future of our country. I have repeatedly mentioned that the church is the connecting force that brings our statehood together. Ask Archbishop Jacob why he made such statements. This is absurd. Let everybody do their job instead of being engaged in politics,” Giorgi Gakharia said.

Archbishop Jacob told TV Pirveli that Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, former PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister of Internal Affairs were trying to persuade him to oust the Patriarch. According to Archbishop Jacob, that order was issued after Charman of Georgian Dream Party Bidzina Ivanishvili met with businessman Vano Chkhartishvili.