Patriarch’s Locum Tenens hopes for “clarification” over his alleged poisoning

Shio Mujiri, the Georgian Patriarch’s Locum Tenens, on Wednesday expressed hopes relevant state agencies would clarify the reason behind his deteriorated health over the past weeks was a “casual incident” or poisoning. 

Speaking to the media following a service at Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, the cleric said “now I feel well”, but added his blood samples would be sent abroad for additional checks. 

Mtavari and Rustavi TV channels on July 5 claimed the Metropolitan of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, who was named as the Patriarch’s Locum Tenens in 2017 to temporarily govern the church after the throne became vacant, had been poisoned with arsenic. 

Andria Jagmaidze, the Patriarchate’s spokesperson, confirmed “higher than permitted” levels of metal in the cleric’s blood, but said it could be caused both by a “casual incident” or poisoning. 

The Georgian interior ministry is now investigating the incident on charges of attempted premeditated murder, with the body providing no details “considering the interests of the ongoing investigation”. 

Several domestic media outlets claimed that the recent death of a maid in the Patriarchate, who they said was cleaning the room of the Locum Tenens, could be connected with the heavy metal.