Former Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua has responded to the ongoing reorganization at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the dismissal of employees within its framework, stating that “years of accumulated institutional memory have been thrown away.”

He wrote about it on social media, also expressing solidarity with everyone who, as he put it, remained loyal to professional principles and the interests of the homeland.

“As soon as Irakli Menagarishvili was appointed Foreign Minister, I boldly walked into his office and told him I had a crazy idea. ‘I’m listening,’ he replied. I wanted to explain that issues of international security were illogically scattered throughout the Ministry, and some were entirely neglected. So, instead of a four-person NATO division, it would be better to establish a large department that would encompass all key security-related matters. I had barely started speaking when he stopped me: ‘I already understand what you’re getting at, and there’s nothing crazy about it. Put it all in an official memo—justify the need and attach a proposed department structure with staffing positions.’

Less than a month after that conversation, the Military-Political Department was established in the Ministry, with four divisions and 18 staff members—exactly as we requested. No one bargained with us, saying things like, ‘Why do you need so many people?’ or ‘You’ll manage with fewer.’ The department consolidated NATO cooperation, OSCE’s first dimension, arms control and disarmament, development of a national export control system, bilateral defense cooperation with the U.S. and other partners, negotiations with Russia on the withdrawal of military bases, diplomatic backing of the U.S.-supported development of the National Guard, Coast Guard, and Border Guard, and conflict resolution issues. From the beginning, a strong esprit de corps developed within the department, which helped foster highly qualified experts in this specialized field. As a result, over the past 30 years, a unique institutional memory was built, which is invaluable to the public service of any country. Today, all of this has been thrown away.

Solidarity to everyone who has remained loyal to professional principles and the interests of our homeland. We will definitely prevail. Georgia is Europe!” – wrote Davit Dondua.