In the dispute over a problematic new law on the control of civil society in Georgia, the head of government Irakli Kobachidze verbally attacked the German ambassador there.
Germany’s ambassador to Georgia has criticized a new law that is considered to be a threat to democracy. Peter Fischer must now endure the displeasure of the Georgian head of government. “Germany, which has traditionally distinguished itself as a responsible state, should not send such ambassadors to a country like Georgia,” Kobachidze said on Thursday, according to Georgian media, about Peter Fischer, who has represented the Federal Republic in the country in the South Caucasus since 2022.
The prime minister of the former Soviet republic also accused Fischer of alleged closeness to the opposition party Lelo. The reason for the displeasure is probably Fischer’s criticism of the law, which many consider to be anti-democratic and which Kobachidze’s pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party recently passed despite mass protests. Like many other European representatives, Fischer recently stressed that the law endangers the EU prospects of the accession candidate Georgia.
Kobachidze’s government is seeking to increase accountability for civil society and media projects. Critics also refer to it as the “Russian law” because they fear that it is based on a regulation from Russia that is used to suppress critical organizations and media there. Both the EU and the USA have threatened consequences and sanctions.
Berlin clearly supported Ambassador Fischer: “The law is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. It must be withdrawn. This corresponds to the position of the Federal Government, which is also represented by our ambassador in Georgia,” the Foreign Office said in response to a request from the German Press Agency. At the same time, the authority emphasized: “One of his tasks is to follow political developments in the country. To this end, he is in talks with representatives of various political parties in the country.”