German Embassy reacts to concerns over presence of wanted ex-Georgian official in Bundestag

The German Embassy in Georgia on Thursday responded to concerns raised by the country’s authorities over the recent presence of wanted former Georgian Prosecutor General and Minister of Justice, Zurab Adeishvili, in the Bundestag. 

Following inquiries from Radio Liberty, the embassy clarified that Adeishvili was present in the Bundestag as a member of the Ukrainian ambassador’s delegation and emphasized the occurrence did not reflect any strain in the relationship between Germany and Georgia.”Adeishvili occupied a guest position in the German Bundestag during the debate on February 22, as part of the Ukrainian ambassador’s delegation. His presence in the Bundestag was not deemed inappropriate based on Germany’s legal principles. This incident is unrelated to the positive relations between Germany and Georgia, which are widely acknowledged,” said the mission. 

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine shared photos of meetings in Germany featuring Adeishvili on their Facebook page. One of the discussions, involving Andrey Kostin and the Vice-President of the Bundestag, centered on coordinating support for victims and witnesses of war crimes residing in Germany, ensuring their access to justice.

The presence of Adeishvili in the Bundestag elicited criticism from the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, who on Wednesday expressed his concerns and called for an explanation over the fact. 

“When a figure associated with the establishment of a prison torture system and extortion schemes is welcomed in the German parliament, it raises serious concerns. We hope to receive clarifications on this matter. Whether it was for official purposes or merely a visit, we seek explanations for this disheartening occurrence. This incident reflects a lack of seriousness in addressing the concerns of the Georgian people,” Papuashvili said. 

Photos from the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine depicted Adeishvili attending a meeting with the German Minister of Justice, with the exchange aimed to discuss measures to encourage Ukrainians residing in Germany to testify against crimes committed by Russia, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine on Thursday also attended a meeting in Brussels, where Adeishvili was also present.

“It is unfortunate, and we anticipate the EU ambassador’s explanation regarding the awareness of the European Commission representatives’ meetings. Following this revelation, we expect assurances on how they plan to address such concerns in the future,” added Papuashvili.In April 2015, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia received a letter from Interpol regarding the termination of the international search for  Adeishvili. The cancellation cited Adeishvili’s refugee status, indicating possible refuge in Hungary, where he resided after leaving Georgia, or Ukraine, where he served as an independent advisor.

In January 2013, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia requested Interpol to issue an international search for Adeishvili, who faced several accusations. The request was approved in November 2013, marking Adeishvili as an internationally wanted individual.

Adeishvili currently works as an advisor to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. His Georgian citizenship was terminated in 2021 based on his own request. 

The former official left Georgia after the 2012 parliamentary elections and has been convicted in absentia on several criminal cases.