Georgian Patriarchate: Most funds allocated for Patriarch Ilia II’s funeral were not spent

The Georgian Patriarchate has responded to allegations concerning expenditure related to the funeral of the late Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, saying it had known from the outset that most of the funds allocated for the funeral had not been spent.

Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Georgian Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service, made the statement on social media while sharing remarks by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on the issue.

“We knew from the very beginning that the majority of the funds allocated for the Patriarch’s funeral had not been spent,” Jagmaidze said.

He explained that the Patriarchate had maintained frequent communication with former Culture Minister Tea “Tika” Rukhadze during the period surrounding the funeral.

“Especially during that period, we were in frequent communication with Ms. Tika Rukhadze, and we knew from her that organizations and private individuals providing various services had, for the most part, declined fees or payment,” Jagmaidze said.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s subsequent comments, the cleric expressed hope that the controversy would now come to an end.

“The Prime Minister has publicly confirmed this, and…