Israeli Embassy "shocked" by Georgian Deputy FM’s participation in Iranian memorial event

The Embassy of Israel in Georgia has expressed deep concern over the participation of Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili in a memorial event held at the Iranian Embassy in Tbilisi. The event, dedicated to "the memory of martyrs who died during the Israeli regime’s attack on Iran’s territorial integrity," took place on June 30 and July 1 and was attended by several foreign diplomats and religious representatives.

In a statement to Radio Liberty, the Israeli Embassy said: “We were shocked to learn that the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia attended a solidarity event at the Iranian Embassy in Tbilisi.”

“At a time when the West is condemning Iran’s attacks on Israeli civilians and working to counter its nuclear and genocidal ambitions, seeing a Deputy Minister attend such an event is profoundly disappointing and morally wrong,” the statement added.

Responding to a media inquiry, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Iranian Embassy had issued a formal diplomatic note on June 26 inviting officials to sign a condolence book. The ministry noted that the book was signed in connection with the deaths of Iranian citizens.

Iran’s Embassy in Tbilisi wrote on its official Facebook page that participants “expressed condolences and solidarity with Iran” and thanked “friends and partners for their support and empathy during this difficult period.”

Among those present at the event were the ambassadors of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to Georgia, Iraq’s chargé d’affaires, China’s military attaché, religious leaders including the head of Georgia’s Muslim Administration, members of the Iranian diaspora, and Georgian Iranologists.