Georgia Summons EU Ambassador Over 'Dark Times' Warning
By Messenger Staff
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia summoned European Union Ambassador Pawel Herczynski on April 27 following a series of diplomatic warnings from Brussels that Georgian Dream officials have characterized as a "threat." The move comes after Herczynski cautioned against letting the Georgian people "go back to the dark times" of civil war and poverty.
During an April 23 event in Brussels, Herczynski stated that "Georgia is at a crossroads" and that decisions made in the coming months will determine if the country joins the European family or moves "back to its dark past." He emphasized, "We cannot let Georgia and the wonderful, warm, hospitable Georgian people go back to the dark times of violence, civil war, poverty, deprivation, and corruption. This is not the future they deserve."
Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, meeting with the ambassador at Tbilisi's Ceremonial Palace, denounced the remarks as "unacceptable." She argued that the Georgian government, having been elected by the people, "knows best and feels best which crossroads Georgia stands at." Botchorishvili added that the current attitude from Brussels "undermines trust" and "fuels polarization" by encouraging a "radical agenda."
The Foreign Ministry's formal statement echoed these sentiments, claiming that actions undertaken by Brussels can only be viewed as fostering a "radicalized political agenda." Botchorishvili noted that Georgia expects an approach from the EU based on "fairness and mutual respect."
The EU Delegation to Georgia responded with its own statement, clarifying that the ambassador had a "substantive discussion" about relations. The delegation reaffirmed that the EU has stood by Georgia since its independence and that the 2023 decision to grant candidate status proves its desire for the country to move forward.
However, the statement delivered a blunt assessment of the current political climate: "Unfortunately, the current trajectory taken by Georgian authorities pushes Georgia away from the path of EU membership. Persistent anti-EU rhetoric further undermines the credibility of Georgia's EU aspirations." The delegation concluded by stressing that while the EU does not force membership on anyone, it hopes authorities "do not miss this historic opportunity that still exists."
