Georgia’s former ambassador to Denmark victim of distrimination – Ombudswoman

The Public Defender’s Office has found discriminatory treatment in the case of Gigi Gigiadze, the former ambassador of Georgia to Denmark.

 

Gigiadze was the only ambassador who publicly supported the suspect in a Georgia-Azerbaijan land forfeit case Ivery Melashvili back in 2020, stating that the latter had always fulfilled his duties with dignity.

 

Then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Davit Zalkalian, said that he was “surprised” by Gigiadze’s post, while the current chair of the Georgia Dream ruling party, Irakli Kobakhidze, suggested that “the standards of diplomatic activity were grossly violated”.

 

In January 2021, Gigiadze was recalled from the position of ambassador “due to the expiry of the rotation period.”

 

He claimed that the enrollment in the reserve and the non-offering of another alternative position until now was related to the post published on Facebook on October 7, 2020.

 

The Foreign Ministry stated  that from March 1, 2021 until now, 84 individuals have been recalled from diplomatic missions and consular institutions of Georgia abroad and enrolled in the diplomatic service reserve,  while 11 of whom held the position of the head of the diplomatic mission.

 

It said that the refusal to be appointed to a desired position should not have been considered as a possible fact of discrimination, since there could be more applicants than positions.

 

Gigiadze stated that since  March 1, 2021, the individuals who had no experience of working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were appointed as ambassadors in several countries, and it was not clear how the ministry selected the candidates.

 

The Public Defender stated that the refusal to extend the term of diplomatic service for Gigiadzi and also the non-consideration of his candidacy for the existing vacancies, due to the expression of a different opinion, represented discriminatory treatment towards him.

 

The Ombudswoman addresses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss with the applicant the offer of a position equivalent to his qualifications.

 

Also, not to allow discriminatory treatment for different opinions or on other grounds in the future, and to conduct activities in compliance with the principle of equality, including ensuring the compliance of the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “on elimination of all forms of discrimination” with the law.

 

Gigiadze had been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia since 2000.

 

In different years, he had served as the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to Germany, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the main negotiator of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP) with the European Union.

 

In 2017, he was awarded the highest diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and in the same year he became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of Denmark.