Prosecutor’s Office: Archpriest Mamaladze Intended to Kill Patriarch’s Secretary

TBILISI – The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia (POG) says they have concluded their investigation of the 'Cyanide Case.' According to the POG, Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze, who was detained with charges of planning the murder of a high-ranking cleric, wanted to kill Secretary of the Patriarch Shorena Tetruashvili.

“The evidence obtained confirmed that the case is preparation of murder out of cupidity, for the purpose of preserving one’s official position and material welfare, based on which the charges of Giorgi Mamaladze were aggravated under Article 18, 109§3(c) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which means preparation of murder for self-interest,” the statement by the POG reads.

The statement also says that since November 2015 Mamaladze had been working as a head of Property Management Department of Patriarchate of Georgia. During his service, a negative relationship developed between him and Shorena Tetruashvili, the Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. On January 4, 2016, he was discharged from his position. He blamed Tetruashvili, though at the same time he was appointed as the deputy head of the same Department and the Director General of Saint Joachim and Anne Medical Center of Patriarchate of Georgia. “To preserve his material condition and hierarchical status and to ensure the advancement of his career in the future, Mamaladze planned to murder Shorena Tetruashvili by using potent toxic poison,” the investigation concluded. Furthermore, Mamaladze is charged with illegal purchase and storage of firearms.

After finishing the investigation, the POG transferred the case to the Tbilisi City Court for consideration. The pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 5, 2017.  

Archpriest Mamladze was arrested on February 10th at the Tbilisi Airport. The clergyman was detained with cyanide en route to Berlin, where Georgia’s Catholicos Patriarch was having a gall bladder operation. Shorena Tetruashvili was in the hospital with the patriach.

The lawyers of the detained cleric say he is not guilty. They demand a meeting with the members of the Holy Synod. If Archpriest Mamaladze is proven guilty, he faces 16 to 20 years in prison.

By Thea Morison