Georgian Authorities Express Concern Over Zurab Adeishvili's Meetings in Berlin and Brussels
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, met with the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia, Peter Fischer.
As per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ambassadors were officially informed about Georgia's concerns regarding the involvement of Zurab Adeishvili, a wanted criminal recognized by Georgian courts, in visits and meetings held in the European Union and Germany.
"As explained to the ambassadors, Zurab Adeishvili is known to be guilty of high-profile cases. It is a sad fact that a person whose criminal actions were directed against the principles of a democratic, just state participates in official formats in EU countries. This naturally causes fair concern in Georgian society and does not contribute to the effectiveness of efforts directed against anti-Western sentiments.
The hope was expressed at the meeting that the European Union and its member states would respond appropriately to similar situations in the future. Ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again confirmed their readiness to closely cooperate on both the active agenda of bilateral relations and the progress in Georgia's further integration into the European Union process," the statement reads.
The Government of Georgia also issued a statement expressing concern over Zurab Adeishvili's participation in visits and meetings in the European Union and Germany as part of the Ukrainian delegation, citing his criminal status and being wanted by Georgian authorities.
"The Government of Georgia expresses concern over the visits and meetings held in the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany, in which Zurab Adeishvili, an individual recognized as a criminal and wanted by Georgian justice, participated as part of the Ukrainian delegation.
Zurab Adeishvili was one of the architects of the repressive regime that, for years, disregarded the principles of democracy, the rule of law, basic human rights and freedoms, as well as the independence of the judiciary in Georgia. This regime sacrificed the lives, health, and well-being of many people," the statement reads.
According to the statement, the hosting of Zurab Adeishvili in the European Union and Germany undermines the perception that the European bureaucracy is committed to the idea of a legal state.
The government administration noted that Georgia considers itself a loyal partner and anticipates that in the future, European structures and bureaucracy will demonstrate increased sensitivity and loyalty to the values upon which Europe was founded after the Second World War.
