German Foreign Office supports ambassador to Georgia amid claims of ‘conspicuous friendship with gov’t’
German Foreign Office Secretary Miguel Berger said that the Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch has the ‘full support’ of Germany's foreign office. Photo: dw.com
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State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Miguel Berger has said that the German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch has the ‘full support’ of the country’s foreign office amid the German media outlet Bild’s claims that Knirsch is ‘conspicuously friendly’ with the Georgian government.
German media outlet Bild published an article about Knirsch on November 22, claiming that the ambassador Knirsch seems to get along with the Georgian government but has a 'rather hostile' relationship with the Georgian opposition and civil society organisations.
The article pointed out that Knirsch's wife works at Kutaisi International University (KIU) in Georgia, which was founded by the former head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Berger told Civil.ge that the allegations that Knisch’s work might be ‘negatively influenced’ by his wife’s employment at KIU is ‘unfounded.’
[A spouse] exercising their profession in a legal, non-political job at normal market wages in no way constitutes grounds for allegations of corruption, he added.
Berger maintained that the German Embassy in Georgia has ‘good relations’ not only with the government, but also with the opposition and civil society organisations.
The State Secretary further noted that Germany will remain a ‘reliable partner’ for Georgia under Germany’s new coalition government.
Germany’s Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats forming a new coalition government have declared their support for the European integration of the Eastern Partnership countries, including Georgia.
Three German parties forming a new coalition government have declared their support for the European integration of the Eastern Partnership countries, including Georgia. The Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats reached a deal yesterday to form a new government in Germany, with Olaf Scholz replacing Angela Merkel as chancellor.
German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch, who was one of the facilitators in the ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition’s election talks, says that he is surprised by critical comments made against him which came after his statement regarding the imprisoned co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua and the election agreement.
The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia has issued a statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in which it 'condemns the attacks of certain political actors and media outlets' against the Ambassador of Germany Hubert Knirsch.
German Ambassador to Georgia Hubert Knirsch responded to German media outlet Bild's article calling him 'remarkably pro-government,' saying that 'everyone is free' to form and express an opinion on his work.
Bild published the article Serious suspicions against the German ambassador yesterday, claiming that Knirsch seems to get along with the Georgian government but has a 'rather hostile' relationship with the Georgian opposition and civil society organisations.