Norwegian ambassador summoned at Georgian foreign office over ex-pres. Saakashvili’s award

Helene Sand Andresen, the Norwegian ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday was summoned at the Georgian foreign office over awarding imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili with Sjur Lindebrekke Award for promotion of human rights and democracy by the Norwegian Conservative Party on the weekend. 

 

The office said the meeting also discussed the diplomat’s reaction to comparing Saakashvili with Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik by prime minister Irakli Garibashvili in comments on the prize on Monday, with the ambassador saying she was “shocked” by the parallel. 

 

“The ambassador had been explained the negative attitude of the Georgian side to the mentioned fact, which is related to the violations of human rights and abuse of power by the government during the rule of Mikheil Saakashvili, for which Saakashvili and many representatives of his government had been convicted or have already served their sentences”, said the body. 

 

The ministry stressed that such a move by the Norwegian party “does not contribute to depolarization in Georgia and is insulting to the citizens and their family members who were victims of the criminal acts committed during the rule of Saakashvili”. 

 

The ministry cited the diplomat as saying that the prize “does not represent the position of the Norwegian government and is an initiative of a specific political party”.