EU Ambassador on October 4 events: Refer to official statement by HRVP Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Kos; I have no further comments to make

“Please refer to the official statement by Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Commissioner Kos that was issued on Sunday. On my side, I have no further comments to make,” EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński stated, following his departure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ambassador explained that the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs had provided the government’s assessment of the elections and the subsequent developments.

“ I was invited, together with my fellow colleagues, ambassadors, at short notice to the briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The First Deputy Foreign Minister presented an assessment of the authorities of what has happened, the elections, and post-election. The European Union’s assessment of the elections and post-election situation has been stated very clearly in the official statement by Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Commissioner Kos. Please refer to the statement that was issued on Sunday. On my side, I have no further comments to make,” Herczyński stated.

A meeting was convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with ambassadors accredited to Georgia to discuss the events of October 4. According to available information, German Ambassador Peter Fischer was not present at this meeting.

On October 5, the High Representative of the European Union, Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, issued a joint statement concerning Georgia’s recent local elections. According to the statement, the elections were held “amid a period of extensive crackdown on dissent.” It also emphasised the need for “A constructive and inclusive dialogue involving all political actors and civil society is essential, and we call on every side to refrain from violence.”