Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze pleads innocent

Giorgi Mamaladze, Archpriest and Head of Patriarchate’s Property Management Service detained on charge of attempt to poison Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, does not plead guilty and demands a meeting with several bishops. 

Ucha Nanuashvili, Georgian Public Defender visited Mamaladze at #8 Penitentiary Facility earlier today. Nanuashvili said that the charged person told him that his detention took place with procedural violations and denied to be carrying Potassium Cyanide in his suitcase. Lawyers also visited archpriest at pre-detention cell. 

Giorgi Pantsulaia, lawyer of Mamaladze, applies to Chief Prosecutor’s Office with a letter. Pantsulaia demands that the content of the information into the case is made public. Lawyer also talks about the letter that was addressed to the Patriarchate. He said that Mamaladze has not seen the letter but confirms that he had applied with similar letters to Patriarch and Holy Synod several times after December 2015. 

The latest letter, which was intended to be sent to Patriarch, tells about problems related to Patriarchate’s property and various financial machinations involving both church and public persons. The authenticity of the letter is not determined though as yet.  

Meanwhile, Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) says that various statements made into case of Giorgi Mamaladze, violates his presumption of innocence. According to GYLA, the made statements contradict European Convention on Human Rights and Constitution. Based on Constitution, “Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to the law.”