Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has sharply criticized Peter Fischer, accusing the diplomat of manipulating facts and disregarding the truth in remarks related to European Union sanctions discussions.
In a post published on Facebook, Papuashvili responded to statements made by Fischer regarding the EU’s upcoming 20th sanctions package against Russia and the potential inclusion of Georgia’s Kulevi Oil Terminal.
“The well-known German honesty, in such cases, includes apologizing. But in Mr. Peter’s case, it seems permissible to first manipulate with lies and then disregard the truth,” Papuashvili wrote.
The dispute stems from a statement made by the German ambassador on February 24, in which Fischer said that the EU’s 20th sanctions package included both a legislative proposal and supporting evidence related to the Kulevi Oil Terminal.
Papuashvili rejected that claim, arguing that the information presented by the ambassador was misleading.
“The rules-based international order was violated, but where is honesty?” the parliament speaker said, criticizing what he described as manipulation of facts in the public debate.
The controversy comes after the European Union decided not to include the Kulevi Oil Terminal in its upcoming sanctions package against Russia.
The decision was communicated to Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili in a letter from David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s sanctions envoy.
O’Sullivan claimed that the terminal had initially been considered for inclusion in the sanctions package due to concerns related to the transportation of Russian oil and the use of ports by vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
However, Brussels ultimately decided against sanctioning the facility after Georgian authorities and the terminal’s operator provided assurances that they would fully comply with EU sanctions, including restrictions on Russian oil exports and the price cap mechanism.
Related story: EU drops Georgia’s Kulevi Oil Terminal from 20th Russia sanctions package
