Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze launched sharp verbal attacks against German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer midweek, accusing him of overstepping diplomatic boundaries and interfering in the country’s internal affairs.
Kaladze described Fischer’s conduct as “offensive,” stating that it is inappropriate to even refer to him as an ambassador. “He has crossed all diplomatic boundaries and red lines,” Kaladze said. He further alleged that Fischer is “actively involving himself in Georgia’s domestic politics,” claiming that the ambassador is “encouraging public confrontation” and “inciting extremism to divide society.”
The mayor’s comments came in response to a post by Ambassador Fischer on X, where the diplomat highlighted a recent conversation with Germany’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Günter Krichbaum. According to Fischer, Krichbaum had expressed “deep concern about the direction of Georgia” and reaffirmed the German government’s full support for him in his role as ambassador.
“It is deeply troubling when a representative of another country interferes in Georgia’s internal political affairs,” Kaladze said. He referenced previous foreign statements made during parliamentary elections, alleging that those remarks were part of a broader campaign against the ruling party. “The Georgian people responded appropriately to these so-called diplomats who harbor hostility towards Georgians, by defeating them at the polls,” he added.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze echoed and escalated the criticism, characterizing Fischer as a “tragic figure” and going as far as to suggest that expelling him would be a “gift.”
“Fischer is in a tragic situation, and even defending him is tragic,” Kobakhidze said. “He is such a tragic figure that expelling him would be a gift. It is tragic – when you are Khazaradze’s tenant, I don’t know what could be a greater tragedy.”
Despite the accusations, Ambassador Fischer stood by his remarks. In his original post, he reiterated Germany’s firm opposition to political violence and dismissed allegations to the contrary as “untrue.”
“Of course, Germany rejects political violence. I have said so publicly in Georgia. To claim otherwise is untrue,” Fischer wrote.
The European Union Representation in Georgia on Thursday expressed solidarity with German Ambassador Peter Fischer.
“We express solidarity with Germany’s Ambassador in Georgia,” the EU mission wrote on X. “As stated by the HRVP spokesperson, the EU rejects and condemns the disinformation and baseless accusations regarding the EU and its Member States’ role and activities in Georgia.”
The statement came after Germany’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed support for Fischer, stressing that he represents the official position of the Federal Government.
“The Federal Foreign Office categorically rejects and condemns Mr. Papuashvili’s unfounded accusations. We are concerned that by spreading disinformation and divisive narratives, he is actively undermining Germany-Georgia relations,” the German ministry stated.
The escalating war of words marks a new low in Georgian-German diplomatic relations and underscores growing tensions between the Georgian government and Western representatives who have raised concerns about democratic backsliding in the country.
By Team GT
