The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Shio III, stated that the country's demographic decline could lead to "other peoples" eventually outnumbering Georgians.
On May 17, during events marking Family Sanctity Day, the Patriarch said:
"If we do not correct our demographic situation, if we do not take care to strengthen, save, and preserve the family, we face the real danger that other peoples who love children, do not abandon their children, defend their religion, and therefore multiply well, will settle in our beautiful country alongside us."
These words sparked discontent among some of Georgia's Azerbaijani community, who saw the statement as an attempt to pit ethnic groups against each other and portray national minorities as a demographic threat.
Journalist Jeyhun Muhammadali stated that such rhetoric makes him feel like a "second-class citizen" in his own country. He argued that the causes of the demographic crisis are not related to ethnic minorities, but to poverty, economic problems, and mass emigration.
Human rights activist Samira Bayramova also criticized Shio III's remarks. She stated that the declining birth rate in Georgia is a consequence of the socioeconomic crisis and labor migration, and that scapegoating ethnic groups only exacerbates tensions in society.
Activist Nashir Ordukhanov recalled that no such statements were made under the previous primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilia II. He added that Ilia II consistently advocated for equality and peaceful coexistence among peoples.
"Georgia's main problem is not the growth of other ethnic groups, but the increasing number of criminals, swindlers, and racists," Ordukhanov stated.
The new Georgian Patriarch, Shio III, has already found himself at the center of several public scandals in the first weeks since his election. He previously said that families who have had abortions are "doomed" and will be unable to build a happy life. These words were criticized by Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, who called them "merciless" and compared them to a "harsh sentence."
