Georgian Parliament Speaker criticises German Ambassador’s symbolic messaging, accuses of judicial interference

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday accused the German Ambassador to Georgia of using symbolic and artistic methods to send political messages, claiming these acts amount to interference in the judiciary and a breach of diplomatic norms.

In his social media message, Papuashvili Papuashvili highlighted two instances where the Ambassador's actions were inappropriate. The first involved an interview conducted against the backdrop of a poster emblazoned with “Freedom to Mzia”.

Papuashvili suggested this was a deliberate message to a judge whose ongoing trial the Ambassador was reportedly observing.

The Speaker questioned the Ambassador’s motives, noting that he does not speak Georgian and had no translation during the court hearing, suggesting that the Ambassador's presence was not about understanding the legal process but rather to send a message to the judge - a warning that “Big Brother is watching”.

“Such monitoring and symbolic gestures clearly constitute pressure on the judiciary and a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations”, he said.

The Speaker also recalled a prior incident in which the German Ambassador appeared before a banner displaying the word “Mona” (meaning “slave”), a slogan widely used by radical opposition groups. He argued that this term is not just a slogan but a tool of dehumanisation.

He pointed to the German Constitution’s opening statement - “Human dignity shall be inviolable” - and accused the Ambassador’s actions of contradicting this fundamental principle.

“To label others as slaves and deny their human dignity is a rejection of the very letter, spirit, and historical context of Germany’s own constitution”, he said.

Papuashvili concluded by calling on the German Foreign Ministry to address these concerns directly.