Archbishop Jacob Says Internal Minister is “Man of Moscow”
By Tea Mariamidze
Monday, December 31
Archbishop of the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, Jacob, says that the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia is the “man of Russia.”
The Archbishop made the statement in his interview with TV 1, saying if the government knew what “real intentions of Gakharia are, they would get rid of him.”
Archbishop Jacob criticized Gakharia for his initiated marijuana cultivation project this autumn, saying he should be ashamed of speaking about the legalization of medical cannabis.
As for Gakharia’s possible premiership in the future, the cleric said if this ever happens, the government will have serious problems with the Church.
“It is unacceptable that a man [Gakharia] with such a mentality ever became the Prime Minister. I will not let this happen. We will overthrow him,” the Archbishop stressed.
The controversial marijuana cultivation bill, which has been withdrawn from the parliamentary discussions after the harsh position of the Church, was initiated by the Interior Minister.
According to the draft, marijuana production would have been announced as a licensed activity but only for export and only for medical and cosmetic purposes.
The licensing conditions would have defined the geographical area, quantity and other issues related to marijuana production in Georgia.
As Gakharia stated in autumn, a special agency would be set up for licensing marijuana cultivation.
After the Church voiced its harsh position and criticized the initiative, Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced that discussions over the issue were delayed in the legislative body in order to launch wider consultations.
Later on, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Natia Mezvrishvili stated that the draft had been postponed indefinitely.
In early November, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that the government has decided to withdraw the marijuana cultivation bill.
He explained the main reason was the controversial positions in the society.
