**Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undergoes Mass Purge**
The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is in the midst of a major reorganization, which has resulted in dozens of diplomats and staffers losing their jobs. The process began late April and involves modifying the MFA’s organizational chart and posting tables.
According to sources, many diplomats and observers believe that the purge is being carried out by the Georgian Dream government, which has been criticized for its policies. A joint statement signed by over 200 officials from the MFA on November 29, just a day after the Georgian Dream government halted the EU accession process, was seen as a challenge to the government.
**Career Diplomats Affected**
The reorganization has affected many career diplomats who were declared either abolished or vacant. Some officials saw their positions or entire departments abolished, while others were dismissed and had to reapply for their existing posts. Many of those who were dismissed in the latest round claim that the process was rigged against them.
Shalva Tsiskarashvili, a former head of the MFA’s International Organizations Department, wrote on X that the reorganization aims to remove from office or downgrade the positions of those who signed the joint statement. He warned that the process would result in “systemic politicization” of Georgia’s diplomatic service.
**EU and NATO Directorates Downgraded**
The changes have also affected key directorates within the Ministry responsible for integration into Western institutions. The Directorate General for Security Policy and Euro-Atlantic Integration was downgraded to a department, merged with another department, and its staff reduced by more than half.
Critics view these changes as a way to undermine Georgia’s relations with the West. “We all knew no one was going to keep us in our positions,” wrote Megi Benia on Facebook, who worked in the Department of Emerging Security Challenges and Arms Control.
**Changes at the Top**
The reorganization has also led to changes in management within the Ministry. Giorgi Zurabashvili, a former Ambassador to Ireland, was promoted as GD’s First Deputy Foreign Minister, while Lasha Darsalia was downgraded to one of five deputies.
Recent legislative changes have made it easier for the government to dismiss public employees, including those on grounds of “ethical standards” or contradicting the government’s foreign policy direction. This has led to hundreds of people being estimated to have lost their jobs in what is seen as politically motivated purges.
**Context**
This comes amidst a wider context of tensions between the Georgian Dream government and critics who are pushing for democratic reforms. Recent repressive laws passed by the one-party parliament have broadened the scope of “reorganization” and eliminated the possibility of reinstating civil servants dismissed on these grounds, even after successful legal appeals.
The International Transparency (TI) – Georgia has reported that up to 700 public servants have been reportedly dismissed from various state agencies since December 2024, citing political grounds. This mass purge is a major blow to the country’s diplomatic corps and will likely have significant implications for its relations with the West.
