How Georgian Church responds to the EU on Russian influence and Georgia’s European path (VIDEO)

The Georgian Patriarchate has responded to a recent European Parliament report that referred to the Georgian Orthodox Church as part of a Russian influence network, a characterization that Church officials strongly reject.

In an exclusive interview with Imedi Week, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service, said the report prompted the Church to break its silence and present its perspective on years of interaction with European institutions and officials.

“It is regrettable that such a statement was included in the resolution,” Fr. Andria said. “The diagnosis of this situation is that, through ineffective and unhealthy policies toward the Church, they have reached a point where anti-European sentiments are increasing in Georgia.”

Previously undisclosed meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister During the interview, Fr. Andria disclosed details of a meeting that took place in August 2023 between representatives of the Georgian Patriarchate and then Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, information that had not previously been made public.

“We did not disclose it at the time because society was already highly polarized,” he…