"The European trap" for Georgia Experts discuss Western interference 

German Ambassador to Tbilisi, Peter Fischer, questioned the sincerity of Georgia’s pro-European course, stating that the rhetoric of the authorities contradicts their declared goal of EU integration.

"Georgia wants to join the EU, but at the same time, it sharply criticises the European Union. The Georgian authorities are spreading false information about the European Union. I think if you want to join an organisation like the European Union, you shouldn't speak so badly about it," Fischer told journalists.

The ambassador also demanded an explanation from the Imedi TV channel, which had reportedly claimed that the German diplomat was allegedly giving instructions to the radical opposition in Georgia.

“On what basis did you spread this information? This information is false. I invite you to prove that I am giving instructions to the opposition,” Fischer stated.

Recently, Berlin called on the Georgian authorities to change their political course and to stop criticising Germany’s ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer.

“Germany and the European Union once again urge the Georgian government to stop spreading false narratives about European positions and policies, and to change its current political course. The German ambassador in Tbilisi represents the position of the federal government,” a representative of Germany’s foreign ministry said.

Germany is concerned about a “rollback of democracy in Georgia” due to Tbilisi’s adoption of laws on foreign agents and the ban on LGBT propaganda, as well as its refusal to open a second front against Russia. In response, Berlin has frozen assistance to the Georgian government and imposed sanctions on several Georgian officials.

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, in turn, stated that the French Embassy is providing funds to radical political groups operating in Georgia, thereby indirectly financing their anti-government activities. He noted that this fact is being concealed and presented as if the aforementioned groups are engaged in tourism projects, whereas in reality, these individuals are plotting to overthrow the government.

Papuashvili also commented on the creation of a new investigative commission in the European Union and recalled that the current U.S. administration had exposed fraudulent funding schemes within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“If such problems have been uncovered in U.S. funding, then European financial support may carry the same risks. Unfortunately, the EU Embassy in Georgia turns a blind eye to such issues and refuses to respond,” the parliamentarian added.

Why do European embassies continue to work so closely with the opposition? Do Western powers still hope to destabilise the situation in Georgia and bring about a change of government under the guise of democratic initiatives?

Well-known Georgian experts shared their views on the matter with Caliber.Az.

Political analyst Irakli Lataria noted that several EU countries are spreading falsehoods about Georgia.

“It was the Georgian Dream — the very party that introduced into the Constitution the clause on Georgia’s aspiration to join the European Union, justifying it by saying that Georgia’s path is a European one. That is the truth our opposition never repeats, because they don’t care about Georgia or our future. All they care about is Saakashvili. For the first time, we have a government that thinks about Georgia, not about what’s convenient for Europe. There is no war, there is freedom and order — and that, apparently, is something many abroad don’t like.

I don’t understand why Ambassador Fischer is voicing the same rhetoric as our small opposition, presenting their views as if they represent the entire country. Yes, the majority of Georgians support the idea of joining the European Union, but not at the cost of self-humiliation. We want to move toward Europe with dignity — stubborn and proud, as we deserve,” the analyst emphasised.

According to him, the Georgian government does not engage in anti-European rhetoric.

“It simply speaks the truth — and that doesn’t sit well with those who want war everywhere instead of peace. Our government responds with pride and always asserts that we are a country with the same rights as any other.

The anti-European rhetoric actually comes from the opposition. We remember what Nika Gvaramia said about the leaders of America and Germany. The EU is used to Georgia always doing whatever Brussels tells it to do. But now, when our government no longer behaves like a servant and dares to speak the truth — they don’t like it. They prefer opposition figures who used to be in power and who were killing people in the streets. But a government that actually cares about Georgia — that’s what they find unacceptable. Their position is very confusing to me.

They themselves have allowed criticism of the EU to grow inside Georgia. Georgians do not forget the former government officials, and for us, anyone who cooperates with them is an enemy. I will say it again: we want to join the European Union — but not on their terms, on ours, the way we deserve to,” Lataria said.

The founder of the United Neutral Georgia movement, political analyst Bidzina Giorgobiani, believes that the German Ambassador to Georgia and the EU Ambassador, Paweł Herczyński, are violating the Vienna Convention, which defines the powers and responsibilities of diplomats in host countries.

“As for Georgia’s accession to the EU — this is a matter that requires deep reflection. Joining the European Union is not a gift, and it does not depend on what strategy a particular candidate country adopts. Whether a country uses positive or negative rhetoric toward the EU has no bearing on whether it will be accepted into the bloc.

There are specific procedures, the Maastricht criteria, which must be met before negotiations can begin. These negotiations take years. All this rhetoric is aimed at misleading Georgian audiences and serves merely as PR for the opposition. But it has nothing to do with the actual procedures for joining the EU. This is part of a global liberal propaganda campaign, which has been strongly attacking Georgia lately,” the political analyst noted.

During recent hearings in the U.S. Congress, a question was raised to Marco Rubio about Georgia and Azerbaijan.

“They asked what sanctions the United States would impose on them. And all these narratives they are trying to impose on the international community against the South Caucasus are ultimately directed against us — against Georgia first and foremost, and also against Azerbaijan.

The changes we are expecting from the Trump administration and the European Union are taking longer than hoped. We are forced to watch and observe how things unfold.

The radical opposition receives funding from EU foundations and embassies, and they operate under instructions and orders from those embassies. They are now openly working against the government in Georgia, but they have achieved nothing — and they will not succeed in the foreseeable future,” Giorgobiani believes.