Giorgi Targamadze, leader of Christian-Democrats responded to the Synod's decision and thanked Patriarch and bishops for such important decision for Georgian statehood.

"Christian-Democrats" believe,  the decision of passing of the Tkhum-Abkhazian eparchy to Illia Second is a decision of historic importance for  Georgian statehood taken by Holly Synod. "This decision for all Christian world and especially for our orthodox neighbors must became a strong signal that for  Georgian Church the situation on  occupied territories is very important. This fact underlines canonically that  Abakhazia is under the patronage of Georgian Patriarch. The canonical borders of Georgian Church underlines this. This must be taken into consideration by Russian Orthodox Church that recognizes  Abkhazia as a canonical part of Georgian Orthodox Church. I hope,  this will put an end to so-called "recognition of independence of Abkhazian Church" and as well the fact of vandalism on the Abkhazian territory towards the Georgian Churches and Georgian cultural heritage, "- Giorgi Targamadze said.