Georgian Parliament Speaker accuses some foreign diplomats of echoing radical opposition

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday sharply criticised certain diplomats accredited in Georgia, accusing them of crossing the boundaries of diplomatic conduct and engaging directly in the country’s internal politics.

In his remarks, Papuashvili claimed that some accredited ambassadors were violating the Vienna Convention by interfering in Georgia’s internal affairs.

“There are diplomats - ambassadors or embassy staff - who have effectively turned into ordinary Georgian politicians. In doing so, they copy and paste the messaging of the radical opposition. If they choose to behave like local political actors, they should also be ready to face the same standards of political criticism that exist in Georgia”, the Speaker said.

“Let me remind everyone again - it seems this reminder is still necessary - Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations establishes two interlinked principles: diplomatic immunity and privileges on one hand, and the obligation not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host country on the other”, he continued.

Papuashvili further added that this was the ABC of diplomatic etiquette.

“Yet today, we see some ambassadors in open conflict with Georgia’s democratically elected Government. In some cases, their attitude seems driven by personal hostility”, he noted.

The Speaker argued that a diplomat’s role was to serve as a bridge between governments - not as a partisan actor in domestic political debates.

“When a diplomat is constantly attacking the Government or targeting the people of the host country - when they surround themselves with a narrow circle they fund and treat as the “real” people - they cross the line of professional diplomatic ethics and act as regular politicians”, Papuashvili said.

He further emphasised that diplomats who stepped into the political arena had to accept the public criticism that came with it.

“If anyone wants to stay above political debate, the Vienna Convention provides that framework - they enjoy privileges and immunity on the condition that they do not interfere in domestic affairs. Most ambassadors in Georgia follow this standard - so much so that people don’t even know who they are. But those who attack the Georgian people should expect criticism”, the Speaker concluded.