PM Kobakhidze brands EU Ambassador a ‘tragic figure’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has criticised EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński, describing him as a “tragic person” who, in his view, was “not allowed to work as an ambassador” due to alleged interference in Georgia’s elections.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Kobakhidze accused Herczyński of urging the public to vote against the ruling party in last year’s general elections, claiming this amounted to “direct meddling” in Georgia’s democratic process. “He was forced to interfere in the democratic elections in Georgia … He called on the public to go to the polling stations and vote against the current government,” the prime minister claimed. 

Kobakhidze, however, affirmed that Tbilisi would maintain a "unilateral friendship regime" with the EU diplomat. “This regime will continue,” he added.