Archbishop Giorgi informed journalists that the funeral ceremony will take place on March 22, and, in line with the Patriarch’s own wishes, his final resting place will be in Sioni.His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II passed away at the age of 93.Following the Patriarch’s death, a national period of mourning has been declared.

1773836965

Georgia has declared a state mourning time for Ilia II, who died at the age of 93. The official announcement was made by the Patriarch’s entourage Shio, at the Caucasus Medical Center, where His Holiness was receiving treatment in recent days.Diplomatic Missions’ AssessmentsThe US Embassy paid tribute to the Patriarch’s “great contribution,” which, they said, “will never be forgotten.”The EU Delegation, meanwhile, placed special emphasis on Ilia II’s contribution to preserving national identity.“His Holiness played a special role in preserving national identity and faith and remained a symbol of unity for believers,” the EU mission said in a statement.The Embassy of the Republic of Poland called Ilia II “a symbol of survival in times of trial,” while the Turkish Delegation noted that his death was a great loss, as he had been a pillar of peace and moral values ​​for decades.The Turkish Embassy’s condolence letter states that “His Holiness’s passing is a great loss… He was a pillar of peace, unity and moral values.”The Swedish Embassy notes that “His Holiness’s legacy will remain as an example of faith, love and peace.”The Italian Embassy also expresses its sincere condolences to the Georgian population over the death of the spiritual father of the country.The Austrian Embassy: “We express our deep sorrow and condolences to all Orthodox Christians in Georgia and abroad.”Slovakian Ambassador Matus Busovsky writes that he expresses his sincere condolences to the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Georgian peopleCatholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II (in lay life Irakli Shiolashvili) was born on January 4, 1933 in Vladikavkaz (then Ordzhonikidze). In 1960 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy. His theological path began in 1957, when he was tonsured a monk.Hierarchical career and enthronement: 1963-1972: He was the first rector of the Mtskheta Theological Seminary 1967: He continued his work in the Diocese of Abkhazia 1969: He was granted the rank of Metropolitan December 23, 1977: The Church Council unanimously elected him as Catholicos-Patriarch. His enthronement took place on December 25 in Svetitskhoveli Cathedral The name of Ilia II is associated with the recognition of the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate (in 1990), the large-scale restoration and construction of churches and monasteries, the establishment of theological schools, and the publication of the Bible in modern Georgian. The tradition of universal baptism of infants was established on the initiative of the Patriarch.

1773836764

The prosecutor's office charged Mikautadze with nine different counts, including abuse of office, illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity, and money laundering.According to the prosecutor in the case, Irakli Marshania, the convict was deprived of important assets: A residential apartment in Spain 3 cars Expensive watches, gold bars and coins A 15% stake in the Nakhidur hydroelectric power plant Despite the fact that Romeo Mikautadze applied to the prosecutor's office for a plea bargain, he did not plead guilty at the court hearing. In his closing statement, he stated that he was ready to admit to a "non-existent crime" in order to quickly conclude the case. According to the prosecutor, since the defendant does not admit guilt, a plea bargain is impossible.The convict's lawyer, Beka Nemsitsveridze, will appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. He criticized the justice system and noted that the court only took into account the arguments of the prosecution.Romeo Mikautadze was arrested by law enforcement officers on June 20 of last year. He was charged with 4 articles: Article 333, Part 2 of Article 332, Article 337, and Subparagraph “c” of Part 3 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code.

1773661999

According to the Government of Georgia, the one-on-one meeting primarily centred on the relations between Georgia and Belarus, as well as potential future opportunities for cooperation.“The parties reviewed current issues related to the bilateral partnership, including cooperation in the trade and economic spheres. Particular emphasis was placed on Georgia’s role as a safe country in terms of creating a stable, predictable and investor-friendly environment.The importance of holding the 7th Session of the Georgia-Belarus Intergovernmental Economic Commission was also highlighted, as a crucial platform for discussing key economic issues between the two countries.The sides also discussed the positive dynamics in the tourism sector and the growing number of Belarusian tourists visiting Georgia,” read the statement issued by the Government of Georgia.

1773661813

According to her, today’s discussions will also focus on Georgia.“Of course, today we will also address the situation in Georgia. It is becoming increasingly serious. A visa ban for diplomats has been in effect since March 6. We will consider what additional measures are necessary. The Georgian government is not moving in the right direction,” added Kaja Kallas.

1773661742

Official Stockholm emphasizes that human rights, democracy and the rule of law are fundamental principles of the OSCE, the protection of which is a direct obligation of the participating states.“Sweden welcomes the independent expert’s assessment of the human rights situation in Georgia and calls on the Georgian authorities to fully implement the recommendations of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism,” the ministry said in a statement.Sweden is among 24 countries that have issued a joint statement confirming the democratic backsliding in Georgia and calling for the repeal of laws such as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.

1773399160

Speaking on the issue of EU enlargement, Kos said that Georgia’s autocratic system is stifling democratic voices and distancing the country from a European future.The EU commissioner said Georgia is a vivid example of the consequences of Russia’s political success. She stressed that upholding democratic values is vital for the continent’s security.“You can see in Georgia what happens when Russia wins. An autocratic system is stifling democratic voices,” Kos said.Kos drew attention to the recently adopted laws, which, she said, are encroaching on civil space. She directly accused the ruling team of providing voters with false information about the European integration process.According to the European Commissioner, the government is creating the illusion that it is leading the country towards the EU and claiming that the union itself must adapt to its conditions, which is not true.Despite the harsh assessments, Marta Kos confirmed the EU’s support for the Georgian population. She addressed those who value democracy and freedom and noted that Europe “will not lay a hand” on the Georgian people.On March 11, the European Parliament will hold a debate on Georgia.According to the agenda published on the official website of the European Parliament, the title of the debate is “The case of Elene Khoshtaria and political prisoners under the Georgian Dream regime.”The European Parliament will vote on a resolution on the issue on Thursday, March 12.

1773236882

“The Kulevi Port located in Georgia was initially proposed for possible inclusion in the 20th sanctions package due to its role in the maritime transport of Russian oil and port calls by Shadow Fleet tankers”, - the letter reads.According to O'Sullivan, "the position was revised" after the Georgian government and the port operator made several commitments.

1773147378

“On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Georgia attaches great importance to the partnership between our two countries and peoples, founded on mutual respect. I wish the Iranian people peace and prosperity,” states the Prime Minister of Georgia in his congratulatory message.Other regional leaders also congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his election. On March 9, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent him official congratulatory letters. The latter also ordered the sending of humanitarian aid to Iran.Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated the new Iranian leader.Iran's Assembly of Experts held the elections in the context of an ongoing war against Iran.Tbilisi (GBC) - Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia has sent an official message of congratulations to Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.The situation in the region remains extremely tense, and the election of the son of the previous leader is perceived by Iran as a signal of continuity and continuation of its tough political line.

1773146736

According to Samkharadze, the agreements reached need to be put into action, which will ultimately lead to the improvement and “reset” of relations between the two countries.At the same time, the Committee Chairman also discussed the details of the meeting with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation. He emphasized that the visit is regular and has no connection with the “Moscow mechanism.” According to Samkharadze, the OSCE President’s visit was planned last year and its main purpose is to discuss security issues and the situation in the occupied territories.According to the MP, the main topic of the meeting was the threats arising from the occupation and support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. As for internal political processes, Nikoloz Samkharadze noted that the conversation touched on the developments after the 2024 elections, although issues related to protests and re-elections were not on the agenda at all. According to him, any other interpretation of this visit is unfounded speculation.The 23 OSCE participating States launched the Moscow Mechanism on Georgia on 29 January “to assess Georgia’s implementation of its OSCE commitments, with a particular focus on developments since autumn 2024.”The OSCE Moscow Mechanism expert mission began its work in Georgia on 11 February.

1773062838