Georgian PM slams EU Ambassador for “backing radical opposition”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday criticised Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, for his alleged interference in domestic politics and “open support” for the “radical wing” of the country’s opposition.

Any statement by the EU Ambassador that serves to return the collective United National Movement [in reference to the former ruling party and its “affiliated groups”] to power is unacceptable to the Georgian public, who does not want to see them return to power at any cost”, the PM told journalists. 

The official also alleged the diplomat had “actively campaigned” against the ruling Georgian Dream party in the lead-up to general elections held last year. 

The EU Ambassador was defeated in the elections, and his situation is caused by all this. He openly campaigned in favour of the collective UNM and against the GD”, the PM claimed. 

He further noted Herczyński had “never condemned the violent protests” following his Government's decision in October not to include European Union accession talks in its agenda until 2028. 

Unfortunately, this person is also an accomplice in violence and continues to encourage violence, although his attempt in this case is no longer successful. The Georgian public knows everything, knows how ‘peaceful’ the rallies were and how the Government had reacted to all of this”, he said.

Kobakhidze further accused the Ambassador of “undermining” Georgia’s European integration process. “When you represent the EU in a specific country, and a candidate country for EU membership, you should take care of bringing the EU and the relevant country closer together. When you take the opposite steps, this is counterproductive and a very sad event”, he said. 

Personally, I can express my respect for Mr. Herczyński, although he is acting directly under the instructions of the deep state [in reference to an alleged covert global network]. Therefore, his situation is not easy”, the official added. 

The PM also referenced statements allegedly made by Herczyński ahead of the elections, claiming he had called on voters to “mobilise against the Government”. 

[A] few days before the vote he said something like this: that under the current Government, European integration was suspended and in order for the processes to proceed differently, maximum mobilisation of voters was necessary”, Kobakhidze said. 

The official went on to accuse Herczyński of “attempting to mislead the public”, saying his alleged comment had been a “direct call for voters to come out and vote against the GD and in favour of the radical opposition”. 

He further added “later Herczyński claimed the GD, not the EU, had suspended the country’s EU integration”, claiming “he himself was caught in his own lies, and these lies served only one purpose - he was involved in election campaigning in favour of the collective UNM”. 

Concluding his remarks, the PM condemned what he described as a misrepresentation of the ongoing protests in Tbilisi. 

He further accused the Ambassador of “throwing dust in the eyes of the Georgian public” through his claims that the protests were peaceful, adding “only the UNM could come up with such a lie”.