Meeting with Georgian Patriarch Ilia II was a personal request. The President of Georgia writes about this on Facebook and responds to Andria Jaghmaidze, the Head of the PR department of the Patriarchate, according to whom Salome Zourabichvili wanted to meet with the Patriarch, but it couldn’t take place.

“The meeting with the Patriarch was a personal request of the President. Without the Patriarch’s wish, the President never made public information about the meeting, nor did she ever request a meeting at a categorically specific time.

The President has a special respect, love and spiritual attitude towards the Patriarch, which goes beyond the institutional framework!

Given this fact, it is not advisable for the Head of the PR department of the Patriarchate to make public comments! We think he should know how to refer to the country’s Patriarch and President!”, - writes the President.