Georgian Church Leader playing own game, expert says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II can hardly be deemed Bidzina Ivanishvili’s envoy, according to a history expert.

As Alexander Skakov told PanARMENIAN.Net commenting on Ilia II’s oncoming visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, “the Catholicos-Patriarch has long been playing his own game.”

“Also, he’s concerned over Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s subordination to the church. No church organization has ever stopped at what has been accomplished,” the expert said citing the Russian church as an example.

The expert further expressed skepticism over a possibility of a thaw in Russia-Georgia ties, believing the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be irresolvable.

“However, the renewal of a dialogue is already a sign of progress,” Skakov concluded.