Georgian PM claims EU Ambassador involved in “disinformation campaign” over country’s European integration

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday claimed Pawel Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to the country, was involved in a “disinformation campaign” over the country’s European integration process, after the diplomat on Friday said the Georgian Government was suspending the integration for four years, in response to the Georgian Government’s announcement of a halt of EU accession talks until 2028.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted that “if we do not see a change in behaviour, in the future we will definitely have to respond [diplomatically] to such facts, both towards the EU Ambassador and other relevant ambassadors”.

“Pawel Herczyński, who claimed before the [parliamentary] elections [held last month] that Georgia's integration process into the European Union was on hold, now claims that the Georgian Government has halted this process”, the PM said.

For some time, we have been avoiding diplomatic responses to such developments, however, everything has its limits, and if we do not see a change in behaviour, we will definitely respond to such facts in the future, both towards the EU Ambassador and other relevant ambassadors. We are talking about diplomatic responses”, he continued.

Kobakhidze further claimed “constant blackmail” over the European integration issue was “insulting to the Georgian public” and “damaging the reputation” of the EU.

That is why we believe that there was no alternative and there is no alternative to neutralising the main tools of blackmail”, the Government head concluded.

The Communications Department of the ruling party on Friday also claimed Herczyński was “spreading disinformation” with his statement.

In the statement, the Department noted the Government had emphasised it would “fully adhere to the implementation” of the Association Agreement with the EU despite the suspension of the accession process, with “90 percent” of the Agreement to be fulfilled by 2028.

The announcement of the suspension of the talks has been followed by clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Tbilisi, with 43 people detained by police between late on Thursday and Friday.