An important visit. Hope it proves fruitful for the freedom of the people of Georgia. 🇬🇪🇺🇸

A beautiful photo from today’s procession of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia’s funeral. Author unknown.

The fact that the Georgian Dream tries to monopolize the entire mourning populace and legitimize themselves through proximity with the Church actually just means how starved they are of popular legitimacy.

On Russians attending the Patriarch’s funeral.

Not to diminish anyone, but whenever I'm exasperated by Georgians, I'm given some perspective by reminding myself that even Hungarians, in NATO and EU, bought the war narrative, and now even the Czechs face a Foreign Agents bill. The problem is our geography, not who we are.

I honestly just feel my ancestors spinning in their graves.

So extremely depressing…

JUST IN: Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I officiated the funeral service of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia. Locum tenens Shio Mujiri and Georgian clergy co-officiated. 1/

Day 479 of daily, uninterrupted, nationwide protests in Georgia.

Kremlin-style Foreign Agents law now in the Czech Republic???

It’s mourning period in Georgia, Patriarch Ilia II will be buried tomorrow, and Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze officially heads the commission organizing the Patriarch’s funeral. Yet, he finds time to attend CPAC in Hungary, reportedly in an effort to reach out to JD Vance.

More on how the Georgian Dream propaganda only considers the Russian Church to be legitimate and authoritative, deeming even the Patriarch of Constantinople a heretic: "Hope you don't/can't arrive [to Ilia II's funeral], you are a Patriarch of War. You are an enemy of 🇬🇪!" And a COVID shot picture.

Great job, Armenia! Hope we catch up sooner than later!

I'll take hatred and anger management advices from those who have had to live through real systemic injustice. Please.

Yet others now state that Bartholomew I will join in the funeral service for Ilia II and that the very notion that he could lead the whole liturgy is erroneous. I’m sufficiently confused and misled by contradictory trusted sources, so I’ll just quit the case.

Council of Europe lowers the flags of Georgia and the EU itself in a gesture of honour towards the late Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II. Such a moral slap for the Georgian Dream’s anti-European propaganda. Although I wonder if those still loyal to the regime have any capacity to appreciate it.

It’s 02:00 AM and crowds are still gathered at Tbilisi’s Trinity Cathedral to attend the wake of Patriarch Ilia II. He will be buried at the Sioni Cathedral on Sunday, like all his 20th-century predecessors. 📷 @publikage.bsky.social

Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople will attend the funeral of Ilia II of Georgia, but he was not offered to lead the liturgy. Due to the Russia-Constantinople schism of 2018, Bartholomew's leading of the liturgy would result in virtual impossibility of the Russian delegation to attend it. 1/

Day 477 of #GeorgiaProtests

Reporters Without Borders @rsf.org issues a study on China's creeping influence on Georgia's information space. rsf.org/en/china-s-c...

"Deconstructing Democracy: Back to Basics or Reinvention?" panel at the Belgrade Security Conference 2025. I think I forgot to post the YouTube link back in November. My friend reminded me about it today and I decided to share. m.youtube.com/watch?si=Kpu... Description below

I am appalled by the fact that, apparently, Zura Makharadze had the honour of carrying Patriarch Ilia II's coffin (pallbearing). Never mind the fact that Makharadze, one of the leading figures of openly pro-Russian, violent hooligan group Alt-Info, 1/ 📷 Mindia Gabadze / Publika

Kvemo Kartli region Muslims of Georgia suspend Eid-al-Fitr (Bayram) celebrations in accordance with the official national mourning for Patriarch Ilia II.

As you can see, the Georgian Dream is remarkably successful at restoring relations with the United States.

👇🏻👇🏻

Most Georgians don’t remember life without Patriarch Ilia II. He was installed almost 50 years ago, in 1977. It thus feels like the end of an era even for people who found him controversial. The Patriarchate surroundings are filled with people paying their respects. 📷 MOSE

Well, I should have been careful what I wished for

Guess the one country whose church and officials have not expressed condolences over Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia’s passing. Correct.

Imagine being sentenced to 11 years in terrorism charges for commemorating a national tragedy on your own land, and spreading educational materials about it. And then some people will ask why we all fight to not be a part of Russia. oc-media.org/circassian-a...

This👇🏻

Late Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia’s version of Ave Maria is actually probably my favourite, so wanted to share it tonight: youtu.be/_UZRsJkx_Kk

Now we are in this strange reality when all opposition politicians, many European embassies, and the Ukrainian Church have officially expressed their condolences on the passing of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia. And Georgian Dream statements aren't here yet.

As the Georgian Dream meddling in the election of the new Patriarch is widely expected, critical bishop Zenon Iarajuli warns the Georgian Dream to not interfere in the Church affairs.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine was the first to officially express condolences on the passing of Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia. The Georgian Church has yet to recognize the autocephaly (independence) of the Ukrainian Church. Thank you very much, Your Beatitude!

Among other sentiments, many in Georgia ask why doctors had to be urgently brought in from Turkey for the Patriarch when the Georgian Dream had 14 years to make something of Georgian medicine.

JUST IN: the Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II passes away at age 93. His passing is widely expected to have a major impact on not just the Church of Georgia, but the politics in Georgia. Ilia II was officially installed as the Patriarch on December 25, 1977. 1/

Update: there is some confusion about the case against Darsania and I should be able to update you tomorrow.

Nikoloz Darsania now faces CRIMINAL PROSECUTION of up to 1 year in prison over standing on a sidewalk in protest. The Georgian Dream legislation says that merely standing anywhere beyond the Parliament’s steps is “hindering public movement.” #TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been conducting airstrikes against each other since late February and we don't even hear about it. Wow.

Apparently, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze complained on Rustavi 2, exasperated, that the Georgian Dream “fights corruption alone, without any help.” And by help, he meant some NGO help… The man who oversaw a literal crackdown on all NGOs…

The Opposition Alliance announced that it will work within the next month to implement key initiatives from the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report. The roadmap focuses on engaging four international actors: 1/

Day 474 of daily, uninterrupted, nationwide protests. 🇬🇪

🇬🇪The persistence of the Georgian public and the unified opposition is starting to pay off. Domestic non-recognition and international isolation are driving Georgian Dream crazy and weakening the regime.