Archpriest Giorgi Mamaladze has been released from prison.
His lawyer Giorgi Phantsulaia says the archpriest’s release from prison happened through the Parole Commission. Mamaladze had about 1 year and 9 months left to serve.
“I can confirm that it happened. He was released through the Parole Commission a few hours ago. We don’t have official details, but I can confirm that he was released. He had about 1 year and 9 months left to serve in prison,” Phantsulaia said.
Mamaladze was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on February 10, 2017, before his departure to Germany. At that time, the Catholicos-Patriarch Illia II was in a Berlin hospital for gallbladder surgery. According to the prosecution, police acted on an anonymous tip and found cyanide on his person and an “unregistered handmade firearm” at his residence. The prosecution did not name the intended victim, the Patriarch’s secretary, Shorena Tetruashvili, until March 8.
Mamaladze’s trial occurred behind closed doors, and recordings of the plot provided by the prosecution were not released to the public. On September 5, 2017, Mamaladze was found guilty of premeditated attempted murder and sentenced to nine years in prison.
