Among the top priorities of the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III, may be facilitating the release of citizens detained during recent protests. This possibility was raised by Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Patriarchate's public relations service.
"We intend to raise this issue again and discuss it with government representatives. It is difficult to provide precise estimates regarding timelines and specific steps at this time," Jagmaidze concluded.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Mestia and Upper Svaneti agreed, telling reporters that "the new patriarch will likely advocate for the release of those detained."
"Although there is no concrete information yet, I believe this issue will be reconsidered. The new patriarch will raise it, and I will support him in this," the metropolitan added.
Shio III himself has so far refrained from making public statements on this issue. There have also been no comments from representatives of the ruling party on the matter.
Earlier, former President Salome Zurabishvili, who is in opposition to the current government, appealed to the new head of the Georgian Orthodox Church. She urged him to take steps to "pardon prisoners of conscience" in order to "allow a fresh start."
