Ambassadors are practically erasing any distinction between an ordinary Georgian opposition figure and the ambassador of a friendly state – when there is no longer any difference in their rhetoric, this is obviously a blatant violation of the principle of political neutrality and non-interference in the internal affairs of our state, – this is what the Minister of Health, Mikheil Sarjveladze, told journalists.

According to him, even though ambassadors are well aware that they are violating certain norms, it is still worth it for them to commit this violation. Sarjveladze explained that “it is worth it” means that, for them, something else takes priority over the principle of non-interference in our country’s internal affairs and respect for our sovereignty.

In addition, the Minister of Health noted that if any Georgian ambassador made statements like some of these foreign ambassadors, “it wouldn’t end so easily.”

“The entire essence of the Vienna Convention is that states respect and safeguard the sovereignty of other states, and from this arises the principle of non-interference in the political activities of another state. Therefore, an ambassador’s work is especially responsible because, of course, they do not have the freedom to actively participate in political processes – regardless of which side they’re supporting. Accordingly, it is absolutely right to assess, as both the Prime Minister and specific officials have done, that these ambassadors are practically erasing all lines between an ordinary Georgian opposition figure and the ambassador of a friendly state. When there is no difference in their rhetoric, it is obviously a blatant violation of political neutrality and the principle of non-interference in our state’s affairs.

Believe me, if any Georgian ambassador made the same kind of statements that some of these ambassadors make in the countries where they are posted, it wouldn’t end so easily. If someone believes that Georgia deserves fewer privileges and rights under the Vienna Convention, that is a mistaken belief, and we will never accept it. Against this backdrop, I think it is clear that we are simply dealing with an unfair attitude. We can have our own assumptions and explanations about what might be driving this. I think there is something which, despite these ambassadors knowing full well that they are violating specific norms, still makes it worth it for them to do so. The public can judge what might be fueling this. ‘It is worth it’ means that, for them, something else is a priority over the principle of non-interference in our country’s internal affairs and respect for our sovereignty,” Sarjveladze said.