Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of the Georgian Orthodox Church is often described as the "most trusted man" in Georgia. It is no surprise why. As the head of the largest religious denomination in the country, he guided the Georgian Orthodox Church through a pivotal moment in its history—the fight for Georgian independence in the twilight years of the USSR—and served as a symbol of national unity during the tumultuous return to democracy shortly thereafter. Even so, some Georgians are concerned that Ilia II was—and perhaps still is—too closely involved with politicians and intelligence officers whose objectives stood—or still stand—in opposition to the interests of Georgia and its people. They are concerned, principally, that the Soviet Union played a significant role in the accession of Ilia II to his position of leadership in the Georgian Orthodox Church. Some have gone even further, suggesting that Ilia II still maintains his ties with the Soviet politicians and intelligence officers who supposedly swept him into power, many of whom now find themselves in important positions within the state apparatus of the Russian Federation. Because of this, skeptics of the Catholicos-Patriarch claim that Georgia’s northern neighbor—and historic enemy—is able to exert considerable influence on the country through him. This paper examines state documents, newspapers, leaflets, and eyewitness accounts—as well as the political intrigue that underpinned them—to assess the truthfulness of these claims and determine whether or not the "most trusted man" in the country can really be trusted.

This paper is available upon request.