Toxic Substances Found in Blood of Georgian Patriarch’s Deputy, Media Reports

Several Georgian media outlets have reported simultaneously on the alleged poisoning attempt against Vladika Shio, the deputy of Patriarch Ilia II, according to Новости-Грузия.

According to Rustavi2, suspicious substances have been detected in the cleric's blood, indicating a prolonged series of poisonings.

TV Mtavari reports that the deputy has been feeling unwell recently, and after experiencing weakness during a service last week, he was examined. Mtavari claims traces of arsenic have been found in his system.

TV Pirveli alleges that the cleric has been urgently transferred abroad for treatment.

Neither the Patriarchate nor the Ministry of Internal Affairs have commented on these reports.

Metropolitan Shio Mujiri was appointed as the patriarchal deputy in 2017. According to the regulations of the GOC (Georgian Orthodox Church), the patriarchal deputy temporarily manages the Church in the event of the Patriarch's death or resignation and organizes the election of a new Patriarch.

The 54-year-old Metropolitan Shio, known as Elizbar Mujiri, is a member of the highest governing body of the GOC, the Holy Synod, which consists of 47 bishops. He was consecrated as a bishop in 2003 and appointed as the leader of the Senaki and Zugdidi diocese. Prior to this, he served as the head of the St. George Church of the Georgian diaspora in Moscow. He has also studied at the St. Tikhon's Orthodox University in Moscow, where he earned a candidate of theology degree in 2015. Media outlets refer to him as one of the potential candidates for the position of Patriarch of Georgia in the future.

This is not the first poisoning incident reported in the Patriarchate. Six years ago, a scandal arose over a case involving cyanide, where priest Giorgi Mamaladze was accused of preparing for the murder of the Patriarch's secretary-assistant. Mamaladze was arrested at Tbilisi airport, where sodium cyanide was found in his luggage. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, claiming he was wrongfully convicted and that the poison had been planted on him.