Tea Tutberidze Assailed by President too

According to the October 20 release by the presidential administration of Georgia insulting statements disseminated through press and other means of information towards Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II is unacceptable to President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"From our viewpoint unethical talks intentionally or unintentionally incites splitting of the society. Their authors ill-treat general restraint of the church over political issues and try to gain cheap popularity through the inability of response," reads the statement.

In addition, reads the statement, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia enjoys sincere respect and support by the society including President. We call upon all democratic political means to protect his reputation and don't let anyone abuse the principles of freedom."

The statement by the presidential administration was preceded by talks and discussions in the society and media over the videos being uploaded on Youtube and Facebook by Tea Tutberidze of the Liberty Institute and the discussion over the issue through her Facebook page.

The videos feature offensive grotesque of Ilia II who carries great authority in Georgia.

The excitement grew following Kavkasia TV report about the videos through the weekly programme Report of the Week (project by GNS studio).

Reporting through the programme Tea Tutberidze justified the existence of videos of a kind, saying she produces similar videos about others too.

"I post a lot of things on my Facebook page, it might be featuring grotesques of politicians and celebs therefore I don't find the production of videos of a kind about the Patriarch as a problem.. Patriarch is not God," said Tea Tutberidze. According to the latter she expressed her viewpoint and nobody has a right to restrict her. Her TV statements were protested by a group of students.

On October 20 about 200 youth representatives held a rally at Tbilisi State University. They drew up a statement/appeal condemning Tutberidze's "anti-national and anti-church" activity.

"Georgia is distinguished with high intensity and rigor of debates in the whole region which is democratic and welcome. At the same time from the viewpoint of the President of Georgia the provocation of the church and an attempt of its politicization is conducive to the interests of ill- wishers,"  reads the October 20 statement by the presidential administration.