The Georgian Patriarchate has accused EU representatives of attempting to promote same-sex marriage in the country

Representatives of the Georgian Orthodox Church issued a statement that caused a stir, accusing European Union leaders of exerting pressure to promote same-sex marriage in the country. According to church leaders, European diplomats openly asked the clergy to help promote the LGBT agenda among the population.

As reported by SOVA, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze, head of the Public Relations Office of the Georgian Patriarchate, spoke about a meeting that took place in 2023. According to his statement, the then-Foreign Minister of Belgium—and current European Commissioner for Equality—Hajja Lahbib, pointed out that of Georgia from contemporary European trends and called on the Church to use its high standing in society to promote same-sex unions.

Archpriest Jagmaidze also criticized a recent European Parliament resolution that mentions the Georgian Orthodox Church. A representative of the Patriarchate described the document as the result of “failed policies” by European institutions. In his view, such demands from the EU do not contribute to European integration but, on the contrary, provoke a rise in anti-European sentiment within Georgian society.