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

TBILISI – The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia (POG) says they have concluded investigation of the so called Cyanide Case, adding that archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze, who was detained with the charges of preparing a murder of a high-rank cleric, wanted to kill the Secretary of the Patriarch, Shorena Tetruashvili.

“The evidence obtained confirmed, that the case is preparation of murder out of cupidity, for the purpose to preserve one’s official position and material welfare, based on which, 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 of 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 was developed between him and Shorena Tetruashvili, the Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia. On January 4, 2016, he was discharged from his position which he related to 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 in career in future, Mamaladze, planned to murder Shorena Tetruashvili by using potent toxic poison,” the investigation revealed.

Furthermore, Mamaladze is charged with illegal purchase and storage of firearms.

After finishing the investigation, the POG transferred the case to Tbilisi City Court for substantial consideration.

Pre-trial hearing is scheduled to be held at Tbilisi City Court on May 5, 2017.

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

The lawyers of the detained cleric say he is not guilty. They demand the meeting with the members of Holy Synod.

If archpriest Mamaladze is proven guilty, he faces from 16 to 20 years imprisonment.