A trial competition for the upcoming 3rd CIS Games in rhythmic gymnastics has taken place in Shaki, showcasing the talents of Azerbaijani gymnasts, Azernews reports.
Day: September 24, 2025
Georgian minister not invited to EU meeting
Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili was not invited to the EU foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for 20 October in Luxembourg, which will be attended by ministers from Central Asia and the Black Sea region. It was announced that Georgia would instead be represented by its ambassador. In response, the foreign ministry said the country would not take part at ambassadorial level.
The ministry also stressed that inviting Georgia’s ambassador to a meeting of ministers showed a “lack of seriousness” and was another attempt to use Georgia’s participation in EU events for “political speculation, encouraging a radical agenda and polarisation.”
Statement by Georgia’s foreign ministry
“Georgia will not take part at ambassadorial level in the meeting on cooperation issues on 20 October in Luxembourg, to which the European External Action Service invited the foreign ministers of Central Asian and Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Given the importance of the issue and Georgia’s role in regional cooperation, it is unacceptable to invite Georgia only at ambassadorial level to a ministerial meeting, and the grounds for such an approach are unclear.
The European External Action Service was informed weeks ago of Georgia’s position on participation. Taking into account Georgia’s role in regional security and cooperation, the country’s involvement at the appropriate level in discussing such an important issue should be in the interests of EU member states.
Inviting Georgia’s ambassador to a ministerial meeting shows the EU’s dismissive attitude towards Georgia, demonstrates a denial not only of geopolitical but also geographical reality, and represents yet another attempt to use the issue of Georgia’s participation in EU events for political speculation, to encourage a radical agenda and to fuel polarisation inside the country.
We hope that most EU member states are well aware of the geopolitical realities, value partnership with Georgia, recognise its role as a link between Europe and Asia, and do not share the approach of the European External Action Service regarding Georgia’s participation.”
Georgian minister not invited to EU meeting
Embassies of 26 European countries and the EU have rejected what they called “baseless and damaging accusations” about the role and activities of diplomatic missions in Georgia, in a joint statement that follows a fresh line of attacks by Georgia’s ruling party officials and pro-government media on Western ambassadors.
“We firmly reject the baseless and damaging accusations about the role and activities of some diplomatic missions in Georgia,” the missions said in the September 24 joint statement. “Such disinformation misleads the public and undermines possibility for our diplomatic missions to carry out our duties.”
The statement was signed by the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The missions of Hungary and Slovakia, the two countries whose governments are known for their friendly relations toward the Georgian Dream government, did not join the statement.
“For diplomats, meeting a broad range of actors – government, opposition, civil society and citizens at large – is a normal part of diplomatic work, and fully consistent with the Vienna Convention,” the statement reads. “We do not support any particular political party and claims that we support violence and extremism are simply not true,” the embassies said, adding: “as a matter of fact we appeal to all actors to reject and condemn any form of violence.”
The attacks on Western diplomats intensified after pro-Georgian Dream media started alleging meetings of Georgian opposition members at European embassies. Seizing on the reports, Georgian Dream officials accused the diplomats of meddling in domestic politics and violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. GD officials also accused the ambassadors of encouraging “extremism” and financing “violent groups” in Georgia.
“We urge all political leaders to refrain from divisive rhetoric and to work towards de-escalation of tensions,” the September 24 statement added.
Also Read: