The EU Ambassador's summons to the Georgian Foreign Ministry has outraged the opposition.

EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herchinski was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his statements, which the Georgian authorities viewed as a threat. The opposition claimed that the ruling Georgian Dream party continues anti-Western propaganda.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, in October 2025, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze demanded EU Ambassador to Tbilisi Pawel Herchinski to condemn the violence by protesters in Tbilisi and stated that the diplomat "expressed support for the idea of ​​overthrowing the constitutional order" in Georgia. In October 2024, Pawel Herchinski called on citizens to come to the polls and choose the future of the country. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze considered this statement a misuse of administrative resources.

Today, EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski was summoned to the Georgian Foreign Ministry for a meeting by Minister Maka Bochorishvili after Georgian Dream representatives, including Kobakhidze, drew attention to the statement made at the opening of a photo exhibition in Brussels on April 23.

Then Pawel Herczynski stated that the European Union had made a choice when it granted Georgia candidate status in 2023, and that it was a moment of great pride and joy. Since then, Georgia has no longer been on the right trajectory: the government has chosen an alternative model – authoritarianism – and is distancing the country from the EU, Interpressnews writes.

"Georgia stands at a crossroads. Its future is not yet predetermined, but the decisions that will be made in the coming weeks and months will determine whether Georgia will become part of the European family based on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, or, unfortunately, return to its dark past," the ambassador said.

According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a meeting between Minister Maka Bochorishvili and Gerchinsky, the minister emphasized that "Brussels' current policy towards Georgia, the steps taken, and the statements made undermine trust between the parties and damage the Georgia-EU partnership."

According to the ministry, Maka Bochorishvili also noted at the meeting that the Georgian authorities have consistently expressed their readiness for constructive dialogue and expect a fair and respectful attitude from the European Union.

"Unfortunately, Brussels' actions can only be assessed as steps aimed at further polarizing Georgian society and encouraging a radical agenda," the statement said.

The EU Delegation questioned Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union

The EU Delegation emphasized that since Georgia's independence, the EU has supported the country and contributed to the construction of a democratic and prosperous state. "The EU has repeatedly expressed interest in Georgia's further advancement," the EU Delegation said in a statement.

The delegation recalled that EU leaders unanimously decided to grant Georgia candidate country status and expressed its position that EU membership is viewed as the best guarantee of peace and prosperity for the country.

At the same time, it emphasized that the EU accession process requires sincere commitment and the implementation of concrete reforms to align with European values ​​and standards. The delegation assessed that the current course of the Georgian authorities is moving the country away from the path to membership, and continued anti-European rhetoric is undermining confidence in Georgia's aspirations to join the EU. In conclusion, the mission stated that the European Union does not force countries to join and expressed hope that the Georgian authorities will not miss this historic opportunity.

Georgian authorities considered Gerchinsky's statements to be an encouragement of a radical agenda.

Responding to a question about which specific elements in the EU ambassador's statement were threatening, Bochorishvili noted that anything that contributes to the polarization of society is unacceptable, Pirveli TV reports.

According to Bochorishvili, the statements, actions, and steps taken by Brussels, as well as the attitude toward the Georgian authorities, are unacceptable and aimed at increasing polarization in society. She emphasized that she considers any actions that fuel polarization, as well as the promotion of a radical agenda, unacceptable.

Commenting on whether she had received clarification from the EU ambassador regarding his statement, Bochorishvili stated that regardless of the explanation, the facts and actions remain unchanged. She added that mutual respect and trust are essential for returning relations to normal, which, in her opinion, are undermined by such statements.

According to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, it is unthinkable for the European Union ambassador to threaten the Georgian people with civil war and impoverishment.

"Gerchinski said that in the near future it will be decided how events in the country will develop - either in one direction or the other, and this second direction, in his opinion, is civil war and impoverishment of the population. When the European Union ambassador threatens the people in such a way, it simply defies assessment," the prime minister said.

The opposition criticized the authorities for anti-Western propaganda

According to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Lelo - Strong Georgia party, Grigol Gegelia, the summoning of representatives Georgia's strategic partners show that the Georgian Dream government is acting to the detriment of the country's strategic interests.

"The Georgian Foreign Minister is attacking all ambassadors who represent this country's strategic partners. Whether it's over a statement regarding Ilia State University or over elementary pro-democracy statements, she is summoning ambassadors of states that are our most important strategic partners. This clearly confirms that the so-called government is a hostile government to Georgia, which is doing everything to harm our national domestic and foreign policy interests," Gegelia said.

As one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, told journalists, this step by Georgian Dream continues its line of anti-Western propaganda.

"There is nothing new. The line of anti-Western propaganda and the blocking of paths continues, so that this country ultimately ends up isolated from "The West. What Gerchinsky said was a routine statement, and now he's being summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the politician declared.

Caucasian Knot has compiled materials on the 2025 elections and protests by opposition supporters on the thematic page "Georgia: Elections Amid Protests".