Bishop of Samtavisi and Kaspi Dioceses father Damian and Metropolitan Bishop of Ateni Diocese father Andria have visited Zaza Gakheladze's family.
The religious leaders said after meeting the Gakheladzes that Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II plans to send a letter to the Russian patriarch regarding the issue of the detained Georgian.
''Zaza Gakheladze's family have requested that Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia act as a mediator. His holiness was touched by Gakheladze's story and decided to send the letter to Russia on his behalf. The letter has already been written and is set to be sent to the Russian patriarch so that he can act as a mediator with the Russian government. Border guards of the Russian Federation have so far kept Gakheladze in custody. We have informed the family of this. We cannot say whether the request yields results. We will wait for the response, and the Gakheladzes will be notified of it first,'' Metropolitan Bishop of Ateni Diocese father Andria declared.
On Jul 11, 2021, occupants wounded and abducted Georgian citizen Zaza Gakheladze in the vicinity of the Skhvilo Fortress after he allegedly disobeyed military men.
The so-called court of the occupied Tskhinvali region has sentenced Zaza Gakhaladze to 12 years and six months behind bars.
