Gocha Javakhishvili, Georgian ambassador to France, announced his resignation on Thursday May 9 due to the return to Parliament of the controversial bill on “foreign influence”, against which thousands of Georgians have been demonstrating for almost a month . He is the first Georgian official of such a level to leave office in protest. In an interview with Worldthis 57-year-old diplomat who has never been involved in a political party says he acted to defend his ” honor “ and calls on his government to withdraw this bill, modeled on a Russian law which aims to silence civil society and independent media and threatens Georgia’s European integration.
Why did you decide to resign?
It is a question of principle and honor. I call for the withdrawal of this bill. I don’t want to get into political debates or win points with the opposition – I am a civil servant and have no preference for any political party. I am proud of the dynamism of Georgian civil society. Labeling it a “foreign agent” is simplistic because it has a vital role for democracy.
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I had already expressed my disagreement when the text was first introduced to Parliament in March 2023. Faced with protests from the population, the government withdrew it. With the return of the bill, I found myself in a very uncomfortable situation, particularly facing my interlocutors, at the Elysée and the Quai d’Orsay, to whom I had promised that it had been abandoned and that we would never return there. Besides, I would have a hard time finding arguments to explain to them why he is back today. This situation no longer allowed me to carry the European message of my country. I was afraid of being a hypocrite, so I couldn’t imagine continuing my duties.
I wrote a letter of resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 17 [quand le projet de loi a été adopté en première lecture]. But as I am appointed by the president [Salomé Zourabichvili], she must sign it. This should happen very soon. Perhaps my departure will give pause to those who support the adoption of this law.
Do you know if other Georgian representatives plan to resign as well?
I haven’t spoken with my colleagues, but most of them are deeply pro-European. I do not exclude that my example will be followed, but that was not my objective. Everyone will do according to their conscience.
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