Georgian PM accuses EU Ambassador of supporting former ruling force, claims ‘deep state’ influence

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday accused the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, of attempting to return the United National Movement (UNM) to power and acting under the influence of what he described as a “deep state.”

Speaking to the press, Kobakhidze condemned Herczyński for allegedly interfering in Georgia’s domestic politics and “openly supporting” the opposition’s “radical wing.” He asserted that any attempt by the EU Ambassador to “facilitate the return of the UNM” was “unacceptable to the Georgian public”.

The PM also claimed that Herczyński had “actively campaigned” against his Georgian Dream party during the lead-up to last year’s elections and further accused the Ambassador of “failing to condemn violent protests” that followed his government’s decision to delay EU accession talks, claiming that Herczyński had, in fact, “encouraged violence” by aligning with those opposing the government.

Kobakhidze suggested that Herczyński’s actions were “counterproductive to Georgia’s European integration process”, adding that the Ambassador’s efforts to “undermine” the relationship between Georgia and the EU were damaging to the country’s aspirations.
The PM further claimed the diplomat’s actions were “directed by hidden forces”, referring to them as part of a “deep state.”

Kobakhidze rejected Herczyński’s portrayal of protests in Tbilisi as peaceful, dismissing it as an attempt to misrepresent the situation.