“It is remarkable that recently the German Ambassador has been employing symbolic gestures to communicate specific messages, using carefully curated backgrounds during his public appearances. A few days ago, he was interviewed with a poster reading ‘Freedom for Mzia’ visible behind him. This was a clear message directed at the judge overseeing the proceedings, one that, according to his own words, he was observing,” stated Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on social media.

Papuashvili emphasised that since the Ambassador speaks no Georgian and was not receiving translation in the courtroom, his presence and the background message were not intended to understand the case details. Instead, it seemed intended to send a message to the judge that “Big Brother” is watching. Implicitly, this implies that failure to deliver the desired verdict could result in consequences.

“Furthermore, the German Ambassador was seated next to his Estonian colleague, whose government recently barred this very judge from entering Estonia for making decisions unfavourable to Estonian interests. This kind of ‘surveillance’ at the trial, coupled with the Ambassador’s use of a provocative slogan as a backdrop, constitutes undue pressure on the justice system, a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. What’s more, this behaviour surpasses even previous instances where the German Ambassador appeared behind a banner bearing the slogan of radical groups—Mona [Slave].

This radical message is not a mere accident or careless remark. Its purpose is to undermine moral boundaries and justify attacks on opponents. If a government official and their supporters are branded as ‘slaves,’ they are dehumanised—seen as rightless, nameless objects rather than individuals deserving dignity. Once human dignity is denied, laws protecting human rights no longer apply. This normalisation of hate speech and persecution—promoted openly and proudly—has become a disturbing routine funded by entities including the German government,” Papuashvili wrote.

The Parliament Speaker pointed out that the German Constitution begins with the fundamental principle: “Human dignity shall be inviolable.”

“Declaring others as slaves, denying them rights, and branding them as undignified directly contradicts the core values and the spirit of the German Constitution. While the Ambassador’s actions are directed at the government and people of the host country, they raise serious questions for Georgian society as well. When the German Foreign Ministry defends such conduct, it is vital to ask: Is considering another person a slave a denial of their human dignity? Is it acceptable to promote a narrative that normalises hate speech and the violation of human dignity?

P.S. To clarify, this is not ‘badmouthing’ or an ‘attack,’ but a ‘legitimate critique’ that demands a response,” Papuashvili concluded.