On December 9, 2014, the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia received information through electronic media that on November 30, 2014 a 15-year old student of the St. Matata Apostle boarding school in Batumi which is under the auspices of the Patriarchate of Georgia left the school.

Based on the above-mentioned information, the Public Defender launched appropriate proceedings during which a representative of the Public Defender visited Batumi where he/she met with a psychologist of the school, head of the teaching and educational process and other workers of the school.

The Public Defender representative met with workers of the Batumi Social Service Centre of the LEPL Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in Batumi.

In the near future, it is planned to arrange meetings with the student himself/herself and his/her legal representatives.

On December 10, 2014, the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia, with the view of acquiring information relevant to the above-mentioned fact, addressed the department of social protection of the administration of the Patriarchate of Georgia.

The Public Defender of Georgia continues to examine the case and will implement appropriate measures for identification of objective circumstances of the case and is ready to cooperate with both the Patriarchate of Georgia and government and non-government sectors with the purpose of implementing true interests of the student in question.