Patriarch’s Secretary Resigns

TBILISI - Archpriest Michael Botkoveli, the Secretary of Georgia’s Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II stepped down yesterday. Botkoveli said he left his post due to a statement made by Soso Okhanashvili, the head of the Patriarch’s security, who is also the son-in-law of the Patriarch’s nephew, Metropolitan Dimitri Shiolashvili.

Botkoveli and Okhanashvili have had many conflicts recently, after the Patriarch’s secretary said that Okhanashvili had not appeared in the Patriarchate since Ilia II returned to Georgia from Germany, where he had a gallblader operation two weeks ago.

“Michael Botkoveli lied, when he said that I was not at the Patriarchate. I have been performing my duties and I have been present at the Patriarchate since returning from Germany," said Okhanashvili. He is expected to make a public statement soon, and will likely resign his position.

Botkoveli has resigned from his position. “I left my position in protest. I left the Patriarchate. I was the Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch, but hence I will not fulfill my duties," he said, after Okhanashvili accused him of lying.

The Patriarchate’s Press service also released a statement about the issue. The head of the Patriarchate’s press service, father Davit Sharashenidze, stressed Okhanashvili’s statement was inappropriate and accused the Archpriest Michael Botkoveli of slander.

"Soso Okhanashvili accused Michael Botkoveli of lying. This is an absolute lie. Father Michael clearly stated that he himself had not seen Soso Okhanashvili in the Patriarchate, but he had not said anything about whether he continues to work in the Patriarchate or not. Therefore, we believe that his statement was totally inappropriate. This is the position of the Patriarchate," said Father Sharashenidze.

By Thea Morrison