Western Embassies in Georgia Reject Claims of Political Interference
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, September 25, 2025
A broad coalition of Western embassies in Georgia has issued a joint statement rejecting allegations that foreign diplomats are interfering in the country's domestic politics.
The message, signed by the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, directly responded to accusations that some missions have supported political unrest.
"We firmly reject the baseless and damaging accusations about the role and activities of some diplomatic missions in Georgia," the statement declared. "Such disinformation misleads the public and undermines the possibility for our diplomatic missions to carry out our duties."
The embassies explained that engaging with a wide spectrum of Georgian society is standard diplomatic practice. "Meeting a broad range of actors - government, opposition, civil society and citizens at large - is a normal part of diplomatic work, and fully consistent with the Vienna Convention," they said. According to the statement, this approach does not amount to taking sides. "We do not support any particular political party and claims that we support violence and extremism are simply not true."
The diplomats also emphasized that they actively discourage unrest. "As a matter of fact we appeal to all actors to reject and condemn any form of violence," the statement noted.
In addition to defending their role, the embassies urged Georgia's political class to step away from inflammatory rhetoric. "We urge all political leaders to refrain from divisive rhetoric and to work towards de-escalation of tensions," they said.
The joint message comes at a time of heightened political friction in Georgia, where accusations against foreign partners have become part of the domestic debate. Western governments have long maintained that their diplomatic presence is focused on strengthening Georgia's democratic institutions, encouraging dialogue, and supporting stability in the wider region.
By issuing a collective response, the embassies sought to counter what they described as disinformation and to reiterate their commitment to working with all sectors of Georgian society without bias.
