Georgian Parliament Speaker accuses German Ambassador of judicial interference

Georgia’s Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili, on Tuesday accused German Ambassador Peter Fischer of using “artistic methods” to “exert indirect pressure” on the Georgian judiciary, in what he described as a violation of diplomatic norms.

In a social media post, Papuashvili criticized recent public appearances by the diplomat, claiming they were “carefully staged to send symbolic messages” to Georgian judges. One example cited by the Speaker was a video interview Fischer recorded in front of a poster reading “Freedom to Mzia [Amaglobeli, an arrested media manager]”, which Papuashvili interpreted as a veiled message aimed at a judge overseeing a politically sensitive trial the ambassador was attending.

“Given that the ambassador does not speak Georgian and had no interpreter in the courtroom, it is clear that the purpose of this ‘observation’ was not to understand the proceedings but to send a signal  - that ‘big brother’ is watching,” Papuashvili wrote.

He further noted that Fischer was seated beside the Estonian ambassador, whose government, he claimed, had previously banned the same judge from entering Estonia due to court rulings seen as politically unfavorable. Papuashvili argued that this constituted direct pressure on the judiciary and amounted to a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which governs the conduct of diplomats abroad.

The post also referenced another appearance by Fischer near a banner with the word “slave,” a slogan associated with Georgia’s recent anti-government protests. Papuashvili alleged that such symbolism “dehumanizes government officials” and “promotes political hatred”. 

 “If a government representative is portrayed as a slave, then he is seen not as a person, but as a thing. In this worldview, attacking him is not just allowed — it is encouraged.”

He called the behavior of foreign-funded groups using such language “a daily ritual” and claimed it contradicted Germany’s own constitutional values. “The very first article of the German constitution begins with the words: ‘Human dignity is inviolable.’ Supporting messages that deny another person’s humanity violates this principle,” Papuashvili added.