Monday, June 15, 2026

Georgia's Patriarch Ilia II gives white horse to PM

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Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was given a horse by Patriarch Ilia II. (Photo published on the PM’s Facebook page.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgian Patriarch Ilia II on Tuesday gave Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili a white horse.

The event took place at the end of a visit by the PM to the Patriarch’s hometown Sno in Kazbegi, northern Georgia.

The two visited Larsi checkpoint, which connects Georgia with Russia. They also visited a newly constructed church in Dariali valley.

It is unknown what the cost of the horse was, but if the price of a gift is more than 5 percent of the income of an official, they must transfer the gift to the Finance Ministry.

Last year, the Patriarch gave a luxurious Ulysse Nardin watch to former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Ivanishvili gave the watch to the state because Georgian legislation prohibits receiving expensive gifts while holding higher office.

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