“I call on him to lower his tone” - Georgian Parliament Speaker rebukes EU Ambassador over exchange with reporter

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday criticised Paweł Herczyński, the European Union’s Ambassador to the country, following his remarks to an Imedi TV journalist.

Herczyński on Tuesday responded to Imedi TV's questions. The Ambassador characterised the reporter’s insistence on receiving an answer concerning Anano Tsintsabadze, the author of the violent and offensive messages as “harassment and pressure”.

“I was surprised to see how strained his nerves were - it’s unusual”, the Speaker said, commenting on Herczyński’s sharp exchange with the reporter.

“I would prefer that he speak to journalists in an appropriate tone. No one in Georgia allows themselves to talk to local journalists in such a raised manner - regardless of critical questions, regardless of persistence, regardless of anything. The fact that the EU Ambassador permits himself to speak like this is unacceptable. I call on him to lower his tone”, Papuashvili noted.