Georgian Gov’t’s “equal partnership” narrative with West is simply propaganda, diplomat Gigi Gigiadze

Tensions between the Georgian government and Western diplomats are rapidly escalating, raising serious concerns about the deterioration of Georgia’s strategic partnerships. A series of critical statements and retaliatory diplomatic steps - including the summoning of Georgia’s chargé d’affaires in London - suggest that relations may be entering a critical phase.

In this interview with Front News, diplomat Gigi Gigiadze discusses the root causes of this diplomatic standoff, potential consequences, and the foreign policy threats facing Georgia’s Western integration.

– The government’s rhetoric toward Western diplomats is becoming increasingly aggressive, and the confrontation is intensifying. How do you assess this trend in the context of Georgia’s foreign policy and strategic relations with its Western partners?

– Unfortunately, the Georgian government is in a deplorable state - it's moving rapidly toward full international isolation. It no longer has meaningful contact with our Western partners. Georgia is receiving harsh criticism from European counterparts, but this criticism is an entirely logical response to the government’s actions. There is nothing unusual here - our European partners are providing accurate and appropriate assessments of what is happening in Georgia.

They see the actions of this repressive regime clearly, express their dissatisfaction, and I am confident they are preparing targeted sanctions. Therefore, I expect the criticism to become louder, and to be followed by concrete measures.

Naturally, the representatives of Georgian Dream [ruling authorities] are not pleased. They try to shift the blame onto ambassadors and foreign representatives. This is targeted anti-Western propaganda. They aim to drive a wedge between ambassadors and the states they represent. We saw this during the attack on the German ambassador - an effort to insult him personally and suggest he doesn't represent the German state. This is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

In reality, every ambassador is an official representative of their country. Nothing they do here is detached from their own government’s position. Suggesting otherwise is a deception.

– Members of Parliament, including Irakli Zarkua [from the GD], are openly attacking the ambassadors of the EU, Germany, France - and particularly the United Kingdom - accusing them of “collaboration with the radical opposition” and even raising the possibility of expelling them. Is there any basis for these accusations under the Vienna Convention?

– Absolutely not. The ambassadors have not violated the Vienna Convention in any way. In fact, under that convention, they are obligated to engage not only with the government but also with representatives of the entire political spectrum. Maintaining a dialogue across all parties is part of their core mandate.

The statements we are hearing from government officials are detached from reality. It is ironic that these same representatives have started to cite the Vienna Convention more frequently - perhaps without fully understanding it.

Let me remind them that one of the foundational principles of the Vienna Convention is reciprocity. If they entertain the reckless idea of expelling an ambassador - or prompting their recall - they should expect a reciprocal response from that country. This may, in fact, be their intended outcome - to sever relations with European nations.

They seem particularly focused on the German ambassador - despite Germany’s historic and ongoing importance to Georgia’s development. It is entirely possible that the Georgian government is deliberately working toward a rupture in diplomatic relations with Europe. If they expel a diplomat for unclear or politically motivated reasons, the affected country has every right to respond in kind. In short: how you treat my diplomat is how I will treat yours - that is the essence of reciprocity.

– The Georgian chargé d’affaires has already been summoned to the British Foreign Office. Can we interpret this as a reciprocal response from the UK? How serious is this diplomatic signal, and could it pave the way for further measures, including sanctions?

– To avoid speculation, let’s focus on what has been publicly confirmed by the British Foreign Office. They made specific reference to recent actions by Georgian authorities targeting the British ambassador. The UK’s concern is not limited to the ambassador himself - it extends to the broader pattern of repression that has emerged in Georgia.

By summoning the Georgian chargé d’affaires and issuing a demarche, the UK has sent a clear and stern message: they will not tolerate this behaviour. This is just the first step - more robust responses may follow.

Georgian Dream officials have isolated themselves completely, acting as though none of this matters. But I assure you - it does. These statements from our international partners irritate and alarm them. This is precisely why their tone has softened in recent days. It is encouraging that our partners are taking a more proactive stance, but this is only the beginning. We should expect more firm and targeted statements in the near future.

– How likely is it that the UK will impose sanctions on members of the Georgian government - particularly Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream? What would be the impact? The opposition claims UK sanctions would be the most severe. Could this also trigger internal divisions within the ruling party?

– Sanctions from the United Kingdom would indeed be the most painful. Ivanishvili has assets and financial interests in Britain, which makes UK sanctions particularly threatening for him.

That said, I do not expect any internal rupture within the Georgian Dream. One person is in full control of both the party and the state. As such, I see no reason to expect dissent or division from within the party’s political elite - they are entirely subordinated to him.

– How should Georgia manage its relations with its strategic partners going forward? The government argues that just as Georgia needs the West, the West also needs Georgia - and therefore, Georgia should be treated as an equal partner. What do you think of this position?

– Drawing equivalence by saying, “Georgia needs the West, and the West needs Georgia,” is a deeply flawed and misleading argument. Georgia’s relationship with the West is existential. It is fundamental to our national survival and development. Decades of history have demonstrated this.

The European Union and the broader Western alliance are essential to Georgia’s progress. But let’s be honest - they can and will ensure their own security without Georgia. We have already seen this - for instance, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas visited Armenia without even expressing interest in coming to Georgia.

This “equal partnership” narrative is simply propaganda - a way to justify confrontational policies. There is no equal sign to draw here in terms of mutual dependence.

By Elza Paposhvili