Georgian PM accuses German Ambassador of violating Vienna Convention with political interference

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday accused Peter Fischer, Germany’s Ambassador to Georgia, of gross violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, alleging that Fischer was directly involved in Georgia’s political processes by supporting opposition groups ranging from the Lelo to the United National Movement parties.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze criticised Fischer’s alleged residential arrangements, saying that the Ambassador was residing in the house of Mamuka Khazaradze, the co-founder of Lelo, which, in his view, warranted a strong reaction.

“As for Fischer, he is already a tenant in Khazaradze's house. This alone requires a reaction, although all standards have been erased today in certain EU countries, which is very regrettable and unfortunate”, the PM said.

The Prime Minister further alleged that Fischer had met with members of what he called a radical extremist group, encouraged them, and that soon after, they organised radical and aggressive actions.

“As for other facts, you see that there is a specific radical extremist group whose members he meets and encourages. Two days later, members of this radical extremist group directly organised radical actions, distinguished by radicalism, aggression, and hatred, while being linked to certain political subjects' radical extremist groups”, he noted.

He framed this as a blatant violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention, which outlined the duty of diplomats to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the host country.

“I cannot imagine a greater violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention. He is directly involved in political processes. Ask anyone who Fischer politically supports. They will tell you that he supports every subject from Lelo to the National Movement. He provides partisan support to these subjects. There is simply no greater violation of the Vienna Convention”, he concluded.

Archil Gorduladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, on Friday responded to an article published by the influential German outlet Der Spiegel, which focused on the activities of Peter Fischer, Germany’s Ambassador to Georgia.

Der Spiegel devoted its coverage to the German Ambassador’s role in Georgia, highlighting critical remarks from Georgian government representatives. These officials accused the Ambassador of overstepping diplomatic boundaries and interfering in the country’s internal matters.