“It is possible that by the final session, where the Patriarch is to be selected by the Synod, the configuration may change to some extent. Metropolitan Shio has advanced, but I would not rush and would not make final conclusions,” said politician Armaz Akhvlediani in the program “Resume” on PalitraNews.

According to Akhvlediani, everything will depend on where the votes of the other two candidates go.

“The main decision is ahead. Today, the Synod session only selected the candidates; we already know the results of how many votes each received. Let us also not forget that by the final session, where the Patriarch is to be elected, it is not excluded that the configuration may change. However, today it is visible who is ahead – Metropolitan Shio has advanced, but I would not rush or make final conclusions, unlike others.

Today the Patriarch was not being elected; today only three candidates were selected. When one is to be chosen, it is possible that the other two may agree on where their votes, as well as others’ votes, will go,” Akhvlediani said.

According to him, it is “clear as day” that the authorities are interfering in the Patriarchal election and supporting Metropolitan Shio.

“The authorities supported Metropolitan Shio; that is clearer than clear. He was and is involved. Let us say it directly – all pro-government media, from morning to evening, actively, in every context, regardless of the topic, directly or indirectly supported this one candidate. If this is not interference, then what is interference?

As for other forms of interference, I cannot speak about that – I have no facts; if I had, I would say it. But I have a reasonable suspicion and assumption that any ill-intentioned government in any era has mechanisms of influence, pressure, and leverage – especially a government whose authority is already destroyed and which seeks to cling to something, in this case the inherited authority of the Church, to use it for its own benefit.

We have seen this over time, and I suspect we will see it even before the historical Synod begins, where the final Patriarch is to be selected,” Akhvlediani said.

For context, the Holy Synod selected three patriarchal candidates: Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku; Metropolitan Iobi of Urbnisi and Ruisi; and Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi.

According to Archpriest Andria Jaghmaidze, head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service, Metropolitan Shio received 20 votes, while the other two candidates received 7 votes each. Other candidates included Metropolitan Grigol Katia, Metropolitan Dositheos, and Metropolitan Melkisedek.