Bundestag MP Malte Kaufmann claims German Foreign Ministry punishes Georgia over recent election outcomes

Malte Kaufmann, a Bundestag MP from the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, on Tuesday claimed the German Foreign Ministry was punishing Georgia over its recent election results.

In his remarks, Kaufmann condemned interference in the internal affairs of other nations, arguing that the election results must be respected by Germany and its EU partners alike.

“Since October of last year, the Georgian Ambassador to Germany has remained unaccredited, which is completely unacceptable. Foreign ambassadors should be able to present their credentials without delay. Just as Germany expects its own diplomats to be received in a timely manner abroad, the same principle of reciprocity should apply here. This situation is a clear double standard. During this exact period, envoys from Congo, the Philippines, Lebanon, Canada, and many other nations presented their credentials to the President, yet the Georgian Ambassador was excluded. This is simply unacceptable”, Kaufmann said.

“In my opinion, the reason is once again that the German Foreign Ministry is penalizing Georgia for its recent elections. We must not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Elections are elections, and the results should be respected by both Germany and other EU nations. Therefore, I consider this a truly shameful episode for German diplomacy. I intend to look into this matter closely myself. I hope these existing friction points will be resolved, and that relations with the Georgian people will return to normal as soon as possible”, he concluded.