Deputy Minister vows investigation on “all factual circumstances” in alleged poisoning of Patriarch’s Locum Tenens
Georgian media reported about the alleged poisoning of Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens of Ilia II, the Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Christian Church, on July 5. Photo: Government of Georgia press office
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Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday pledged the body would investigate “all factual circumstances” around the alleged poisoning of Bishop Shio Mujiri, the Locum Tenens of Ilia II, the Patriarch of Georgia’s Orthodox Christian Church.
In his press comments, the official refrained from providing any details, noting the Central Criminal Department of his body was investigating the incident on the charge of attempted premeditated murder.
The domestic media reported about the alleged poisoning of the cleric with an arsenic on July 5, claiming medical tests had found heavy metals in his blood.
Andria Jagmaidze, the Spokesperson of the Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, said the following day medical checks had shown “higher than permissible levels of metal”, adding both a “casual incident or intervention from outside” could be behind the bishop's deteriorated physical strength over the past weeks.
On Wednesday Jagmaidze, who was interviewed by law enforcement, said the blood samples would also be sent abroad for checks.
Patriarch Ilia II named Shio, the Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Senaki and Chkhorotsku in the west, as locum Tenens in 2017, which means the latter will temporarily govern the Church after the Patriarchal throne becomes vacant. He will also be responsible for organising the process of election of a new Patriarch.
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