German Ambassador reaffirms ties with Georgia after verbal attack in Batumi

Germany’s Ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, on Thursday reaffirmed the strength of bilateral ties between the two nations following a verbal attack he experienced in the coastal city of Batumi last week.

“The friendship between Georgia and Germany will continue,” he said. “I am personally a friend of Georgia, and it is my job to do everything to maintain and strengthen this friendship, which is currently under strain.”

The remarks come in the wake of an incident on May 18, when Fischer was verbally assaulted while walking with his wife in central Batumi, western Georgia. The ambassador confirmed that a man, later identified as Valeri Kochiashvili, approached them and began shouting.

Fischer praised the reaction of nearby Georgians, who intervened to de-escalate the situation. “A Georgian woman and man we were with told him to calm down and leave. Others standing nearby also condemned his behaviour. What calmed the situation was that no one supported him - everyone told him he was wrong, and he eventually walked away,” Fischer said.

Describing the encounter as “very un-Georgian,” the ambassador noted the strong outpouring of support he received afterwards. “Many people sent messages and visited to express their outrage. That meant a lot.”