The Special Penitentiary Service says that the request of the third President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, to bring him to the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II “does not comply with the norms provided for by the Code.”

The Penitentiary Service told InterpressNews that they have received the lawyer’s request.

“On behalf of the third President of Georgia, the lawyer applied to the agency, however, their request does not comply with the norms provided for by the Code,” the Special Penitentiary Service explains.

The third President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who is in prison, has requested to bring him to the funeral of Patriarch Ilia II.

“I asked my lawyer to file an application and ask that I be brought to the funeral of the Patriarch, as his friend, the third President of Georgia,” Saakashvili wrote on social media.

The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, passed away at the age of 93. Mourning has been declared in Georgia in connection with the death of Ilia II. The Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, will be buried on March 22 at the Sioni Cathedral.