Additionally, the Church often served as de facto diplomatic go-between between Georgia and other countries. In 2013, when Georgia and Russia were trying to normalize relations, Patriarch Illia II met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Patriarch Kirill in Moscow and served as de facto diplomatic go-between between Georgia and Russia. During the meetings, the parties discussed the strained relations between the countries and said that "we should spare no efforts in order to bring these relations out of the deadlock".
additionally the church often served as de facto diplomatic go-between between georgia and other countries in 2013 when georgia and russia were trying to normalize relations patriarch illia ii met russian president vladimir putin and russian patriarch kirill in moscow and served as de facto diplomatic go-between between georgia and russia during the meetings the parties discussed the strained relations between the countries and said that "we should spare no efforts in order to bring these relations out of the deadlock"