**Georgia’s Government Targets Diplomats with New Bill**
The Georgian Dream government has introduced a bill to amend the Law on Diplomatic Service. This move comes as opposition parties warn of politically motivated dismissals targeting pro-EU diplomats.
According to the proposed amendments, Article 4 of the law will be supplemented with a new principle requiring diplomatic officials to “unwaveringly observe general rules of ethics and conduct.” The changes also envision the establishment of “general rules of ethics and conduct” within the diplomatic service. These rules will be approved by the Ministry through an administrative legal act.
The bill introduces a norm that will allow for early termination of postings in diplomatic missions and consular establishments if diplomats violate these new rules or act against the officially declared foreign policy directions of the GD government. Specifically, violating the Ministry’s approved general rules of ethics and conduct “which may harm the country’s interests and/or image, or committing an act that contradicts the main directions of foreign policy defined by the Parliament of Georgia and the interests of the Ministry,” will constitute grounds for early recall.
Under the proposed changes, diplomatic officials and administrative staff employed in the diplomatic service will now undergo performance evaluations at least twice a year, instead of once. The maximum rotation period for heads of mission and other personnel will be extended from six months to up to one year.
**Timing Sparks Concerns**
The bill’s timing might raise questions about its true intentions. Just days before the amendments surfaced, reports emerged about a possible reorganization within Georgia’s Foreign Ministry. This move is reportedly planning to dismantle the stand-alone Directorate General for European Integration.
Grigol Gegelia of the opposition coalition Strong Georgia claimed that approximately 250 people are going to be laid off due to this reorganization. He also alleged that the targeted employees were among those who, in late 2024, signed a joint statement in support of Georgia’s European Union integration and criticized Georgian Dream’s decision to halt the EU accession process.
The MFA denied these allegations, stating that it plans to create a new Political Directorate for European Affairs instead of abolishing the existing directorate. However, the Ministry did not comment on the alleged intended lay-offs of its staff. The reform aims to strengthen relations with European countries.
**Implications and Analysis**
This move by the Georgian Dream government is likely to be seen as an attempt to consolidate power and exert control over diplomats who may have different views on the country’s foreign policy directions. The fact that it coincides with reports of a planned reorganization within the MFA, which targets pro-EU diplomats, raises concerns about the politicization of the civil service.
The proposed changes will likely lead to increased scrutiny of diplomatic officials’ actions and decisions. This could create a climate of fear among those who may be seen as not aligning with the government’s views on foreign policy. The long-term implications of this move are yet to be seen, but it is clear that it will have significant consequences for Georgia’s diplomatic service and its relationships with other countries.
**Further Reading**
* “Politically Driven Purge Guts Civil Service” (13/01/2025)
* “Dismissals in Ministry of Defense Raise Concerns of Political Purge” (28/02/2025)
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