Abkhaz church leader refuses to accept icon donated by Georgian opposition party leader

The Abkhaz Orthodox Church has refused to accept an icon donated by Irma Inashvili, the leader of the Georgian opposition Alliance of Patriots party. 

An official statement released on August 26 by the Sokhumi-Abkhazia Eparchy reads that the Abkhaz Orthodox Church was not aware of the visit of the Georgian opposition party leader,  refuses to accept the icon she brought with the help of the advisor to the Abkhaz president, Lasha Sakania, and will return it back.

The statement also reads that such actions will be unacceptable until the Georgian Orthodox Church recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and the Abkhaz Orthodox Church.

Inashvili paid a visit to Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia region on August 18 together with party member Giorgi Lomaia to donate an icon of the Virgin Mary to the Ilori church of St. George in Ochamchire district.

Lasha Sakania, who had previously claimed that the visit of the Alliance of Patriots had purely humanitarian purposes, announced his resignation on August 26 after Abkhaz opposition party leaders accused him of negotiating with the Alliance of Patriots party.

Before resigning Sakhania stated that his ‘old friend’ from the Russian Federation had asked him to help the Alliance of Patriots deliver an icon to the Ilori church and the visit had no political reasons.