Bidzina Ivanishvili Meets with the Patriarch

On November 3, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, met with Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II. 

According to the Patriarchate's press office, Ivanishvili "touched on the recent events that led to irresponsible accusations against the Patriarch and caused great anxiety among the public. Such unmindful acts are not solely an attack on the Church, but are directed against the State in general." 

This is the first meeting between Ivanishvili and Ilia II following Metropolitan Petre Tsaava’s public remarks about the alleged homosexuality of the Patriarch. 

The same morning, President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili expressed her support for Ilia II.