“I fully share the spirit of Metropolitan Iakob’s and Metropolitan Giorgi’s position that there must be no interference in the election of the Patriarch. The election of the Patriarch falls entirely within the competence of the Holy Synod, and our disposition, our wish, and our appeal is precisely that no one should interfere in this process,” declared Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.

He further stated that everyone must respect the Synod’s competence and authority to elect the Patriarch.

“We have observed that some parties are running what can only be described as a campaign directed against specific Metropolitans and not only that. It is also directed against the late Patriarch, which is, of course, wholly unacceptable. We must safeguard the Synod’s competence and its authority to elect the Patriarch. We, for our part, are acting in precisely that spirit.

I fully share the conviction that no one should interfere. You all appreciate the weight of responsibility that now rests upon the members of the Holy Synod. This is only the second time in fifty years, the first since 1977, that the Synod will decide on the election of a Patriarch. This is, of course, a responsibility of the gravest extent. Given the enormity of such a decision, it is naturally important that the Metropolitans speak out publicly. I believe the sermon had others in mind as well; indeed, others were named explicitly. I fully share the Metropolitans’ position that no one should interfere. I do not believe they address this appeal to the authorities alone. They call upon everyone, without exception, to refrain from interference. I fully concur that the election of the Patriarch is a matter for the Holy Synod to decide. I fully share every position held by the Georgian Orthodox Church,” declared Shalva Papuashvili.