Irakli Kirtskhalia, the parliamentary leader of “Georgian Dream” (Kartuli Otsneba), stated that a few days after EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński’s statement regarding Georgia’s potential return to a “dark past,” local “propaganda media” launched an absurd campaign to discredit the party’s founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Kirtskhalia noted that this was not surprising, as the public is well aware that the honorary chairman of “Dream” is the “main guarantor of Georgia’s sovereignty and the preservation of peace in our country.”
The MP pointed out that “propagandists” are acting on the instructions of foreign patrons to harm Ivanishvili and smear the “greatest philanthropist in Georgia’s history” by exploiting the most sensitive topic—charity.
Kirtskhalia stated that the “handwriting of the deep state”—the notorious Deep State—can be traced behind Herczyński’s actions.
The “Dream” leader emphasized that a “coordinated assault” has been waged against Georgia since the start of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, which “after the refusal to open a second front, has become an almost daily reality for our country and people.”
According to him, Georgia refused to open a “second front” and protected its sovereignty.
“Throughout this time, one of the main tools of pressure and blackmail against Georgia has been its choice—the aspiration to become a member of the European Union. It is no news that on this path—where Georgia is objectively a leader—obstacles are being artificially created, and attempts are being made to shift the responsibility for this onto the ‘Georgian Dream’ government, counting on an increase in public discontent and a change of power at any cost.
At the forefront of this process are not only Eurocrats and political leaders acting under the influence of informal oligarchic structures, but also, in violation of all diplomatic standards, ambassadors of individual countries are directly involved, including the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński.
Not to mention that before the 2024 parliamentary elections, he called for voting against ‘Georgian Dream’ and accused the Georgian government of suspending the European integration process—even though his own scandalous letter confirms that this process was halted by the Euro-bureaucracy itself—Herczyński’s latest statements are sufficient to understand that his actions bear the hallmark of the ‘deep state,’ and the goal is a new wave of pressure on our country’s sovereignty,” Kirtskhalia stated at a plenary session of parliament.
As a reminder, EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński spoke in Brussels about the prospects for Georgia’s European future, which was perceived critically by the Georgian authorities: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze deemed it appropriate to summon the diplomat to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, stated that Georgia is “at a crossroads” and its future depends on the choices made by the authorities and society. The diplomat also noted that there is a risk of deviating from the European path and that the EU is concerned about Georgia’s democratic backsliding. He urged Georgian society not to lose its European perspective.
“Georgia stands at a crossroads. The country’s future is not yet determined, but the decisions that will be made in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Georgia becomes part of the European family of nations, based on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, or, unfortunately, returns to its dark past,” the diplomat stated.
In connection with these statements, he was summoned by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 27.
Foreign Minister VS EU Ambassador: Georgia needs neither a “dark past” nor such threats