The most influential bishop of the Patriarchate of Georgia starts an open confrontation with the most influential bishop of the Russian Patriarchate. Archbishop Iakob has likened Metropolitan Illarion to comical Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky and stated that he is the Russian Special Forces Agent.

These statements may become the basis for a serious controversy because Archbishop Iakob has attacked not simple Russian clergy but on the right hand of Patriarch Krill.

Archbishop Iakob responded to Illarion Alfaev"s announcement , which said that if the Patriarchate of Georgia supports the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church, then the Russian Patriarchate recognizes the autocephaly of the Church of the Occupied Abkhazia .

"When our media wrote those words, I thought it belonged to Zhirinovsky, or Zhirinovsky"s party . They can not leave it. They were under KGB, now they are under FSB and GRU. Alfa does not mean anything for me... I am not offended, because it was a stupid statement, as always," - said Archbishop Iakob.

He underlined that the statement of Metropolitan Illarion is traitorous .