Two Georgian ambassadors resigned from their diplomatic positions on Saturday, in protest against the government’s decision to suspend EU accession talks, a move they say reverses a long-standing national goal.
The South Caucasus country was thrown into crisis on Thursday, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze abruptly announced that Tbilisi was halting European Union membership talks for the next four years over what it called “blackmail” of Georgia by the bloc.
EU membership remains overwhelmingly popular in Georgia, and the freezing of application talks triggered large protests in the country, which has the aim of EU membership written into its constitution.
On Friday, more than 100 Georgian diplomats issued a joint statement condemning the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend EU accession talks, a move they said defied the country’s constitution.
On Saturday, Davit Solomonia, Georgia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, announced that he was resigning from his post.
EU membership remains overwhelmingly popular in Georgia, and the freezing of application talks triggered large protests in the country, which has the aim of EU membership written into its constitution.
Diplomats quit in protest
On Friday, more than 100 Georgian diplomats issued a joint statement condemning the ruling Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend EU accession talks, a move they said defied the country’s constitution.
On Saturday, Davit Solomonia, Georgia’s ambassador to the Netherlands, announced that he was resigning from his post.
In his resignation letter, published on social media, the diplomat wrote: “I condemn any violence and am leaving the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.”
Solomonia said that he spent most of his 30-year diplomatic career trying to facilitate Georgia’s integration into Europe, adding: “Today, that hope is gone.”
David Zalkaliani, Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., who previously served as the country’s foreign minister, also resigned on Saturday, reported Georgian media and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Irakli Vekua, who was serving as Georgia’s Chargé d'Affaires to Italy, also stepped down from his diplomatic position on the same day.
A day earlier, Otar Berdzenishvili, Georgia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, made a similar decision.
The United States suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia on Saturday, saying that the ruling party’s decision to pause EU accession talks could make Tbilisi “more vulnerable to the Kremlin.”
The U.S. State Department wrote in a statement: “The decision by Georgian Dream to suspend Georgia’s EU accession process goes against the promise to the Georgian people enshrined in their constitution to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO.
“By suspending Georgia’s EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin.”
Though Georgia is an EU candidate country, its relations with Brussels have deteriorated sharply in recent months amid accusations from EU politicians that Tbilisi is pursuing pro-Russian and authoritarian policies.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which is seen as being controlled by its billionaire founder, ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has moved in recent years to deepen ties with Russia and China.
It also claimed victory in an October election with almost 54% of ballots cast, but opposition parties said the vote was fraudulent and refused to take their seats in parliament.
Solomonia said that he spent most of his 30-year diplomatic career trying to facilitate Georgia’s integration into Europe, adding: “Today, that hope is gone.”
David Zalkaliani, Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S., who previously served as the country’s foreign minister, also resigned on Saturday, reported Georgian media and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Irakli Vekua, who was serving as Georgia’s Chargé d'Affaires to Italy, also stepped down from his diplomatic position on the same day.
A day earlier, Otar Berdzenishvili, Georgia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, made a similar decision.
👇🇬🇪🇪🇺🇪🇺🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/WBuQM3tKP3
— Otar Berdzenishvili (@OtariB) November 29, 2024
U.S. suspends strategic partnership
The United States suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia on Saturday, saying that the ruling party’s decision to pause EU accession talks could make Tbilisi “more vulnerable to the Kremlin.”
The U.S. State Department wrote in a statement: “The decision by Georgian Dream to suspend Georgia’s EU accession process goes against the promise to the Georgian people enshrined in their constitution to pursue full integration into the European Union and NATO.
“By suspending Georgia’s EU accession process, Georgian Dream has rejected the opportunity for closer ties with Europe and made Georgia more vulnerable to the Kremlin.”
Though Georgia is an EU candidate country, its relations with Brussels have deteriorated sharply in recent months amid accusations from EU politicians that Tbilisi is pursuing pro-Russian and authoritarian policies.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which is seen as being controlled by its billionaire founder, ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has moved in recent years to deepen ties with Russia and China.
It also claimed victory in an October election with almost 54% of ballots cast, but opposition parties said the vote was fraudulent and refused to take their seats in parliament.
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