Georgian PM denounces German envoy’s statement

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticised a statement by German Ambassador to Tbilisi Peter Fischer, who said his government would not support opening EU accession talks with Georgia as long as the newly adopted foreign agents bill remained in force.

In his response, the PM said he “cannot attach much importance” to the ambassador’s statement, alleging the diplomat was “involved in the election campaign” of the domestic opposition Lelo party ahead of the parliamentary elections in October.

"On the backdrop of such frivolous actions, I cannot attach much importance to this person's statement”, Kobakhidze said.

The PM noted that an “ambassador who makes anti-Georgian statements will not be valuable to us”, and said he hoped the statement was a reflection of a “personal position of the Ambassador who supports Lelo”.