Majority MP calls for increase in Patriarchate’s funding

Sozar Subari, a member of the Parliamentary majority, on Friday called for an increase in the state funding of the Georgian Patriarchate, citing  “quadrupled” expenses over the years. 

 

The MP, who left the ruling Georgian Dream party last year, following the European Union’s rejection of Tbilisi’s candidacy to “inform” the public about the “genuine plans and aims” of the West and the “radical wing” of the domestic opposition, said the Patriarchate had been receiving ₾25 million from the state budget over the past 20 years. 

 

He claimed professionals in the Patriarchate’s educational facilities had to work on “very low salaries”, while other expenses related to social issues, utilities, and cleaning had also been “significantly increased”. 

 

“We can say the same about other denominations and it would be good if we think about an increase in this direction”, he noted, and added doubling the funding would not be enough.