On February 25, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, accused EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński of being "complicit in violence" and "continuing to incite violence" by failing to condemn what he described as "violent rallies" in Georgia.

Kobakhidze claimed that Ambassador Herczyński was actively involved in an election campaign "in favor of the collective United National Movement (UNM) and against Georgian Dream." He further alleged that the ambassador attempted to bring the "collective UNM" to power and argued that Herczyński "lost in the elections" because he "never condemned violent rallies."

"Unfortunately, this individual is also complicit in violence and continues to incite violence, but his attempts are no longer successful," Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister also accused Herczyński of interfering in the election process ahead of the October 26 vote, claiming the ambassador had called for "maximum voter mobilization and voting against GD." He alleged that Herczyński misled voters by suggesting that "EU integration has been suspended" under the current GD government and encouraged them to support the opposition.

"This was a direct appeal to voters to vote against GD and in favor of the radical opposition," Kobakhidze stated.

He further accused the ambassador of contradicting himself, stating, "Later on, Mr. Herczyński said it was not the EU that suspended EU integration, but GD. So he got caught up in his own lies." Kobakhidze argued that these "lies" were part of pre-election agitation in support of the UNM and insisted that "any statement by the EU Ambassador aimed at bringing the collective UNM back to power is unacceptable to Georgian society."

While expressing personal respect for Herczyński, Kobakhidze added, "He is acting directly under the orders of the deep state. Therefore, his situation is not an easy one."