Personnel cleansing at the Patriarch`s Personal Security Service - it has become known to the Courier that all employees who have been protecting Ilia II for years, have been replaced by new staff.

Father Michel Botkoveli, Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia confirms the release of Patriarch`s security members , but says that only part of them has been released.

Rustavi 2 talked about Soso Elizbarashvili, former member of the Catholicos-Patriarch"s personal security, who has not confirmed or denied any information about the release of the security guards.

According to him, he still works in the Special State Protection Service, but has been transferred to another department and is no longer in the Patriarchate.

Vano Kobaidze, who replaced Zurab Buchukuri, was appointed a head of Patriarc`"s security last week.
 
The dismissal of Zurab Buchukuri was followed by statements made by the Patriarch`s lawyer Edisher Karchava, who accused Petre Tsaava of Chkondidy in attempting to " kill " Ilia II.