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Day: January 17, 2026
Pro-government TV channels have accused German Ambassador Peter Fischer of holding a “secret” meeting with “opposition activists,” claiming he told them protests in Georgia should follow an “Iranian scenario” and that he promised them funding, in what appears to be a renewed round of attacks and accusations against the ambassador.
Fischer has rejected the claims as disinformation, saying the meeting with young people was not secret and that he discussed, among other issues, concerns about Georgia’s EU path.
Georgian Dream and its affiliated media have long targeted Ambassador Fischer, along with other Western ambassadors, with similar claims of supporting a “radical agenda” in Georgia and of violating the Vienna Convention by meddling in the country’s domestic affairs. Germany and other EU countries have rejected such claims and voiced support for the ambassador.
Renewed Accusations
On January 17, the two main pro-Georgian Dream TV channels, Imedi and Rustavi 2, reported, in largely similar wording, that Ambassador Fischer had met on January 15 with what they described as “members of various opposition groups” at the German Embassy in Tbilisi.
Claiming the meeting was “secret,” the two channels said that Ambassador Fischer had “assured” or “explained” to activists that “today’s protest actions [in Georgia] will not produce results in the future” and that “it is therefore necessary that, just as protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran were followed by casualties and evolved into mass radical protest, events in Georgia should develop according to the same scenario.” They also claimed that Fischer had “promised” the activists funding.
The “opposition activists” whom the channels said attended the meeting are Luka Mishveladze, Megi Peradze, Archil Gochitashvili, Davit Sekhniashvili, Sergei Kancheli, Nikoloz Khosroshvili, Anni Pridonashvili and Davit Kashiashvili. The reports only aired their social media posts, including photos shared on X. One of the posts cited was by Luka Mishveladze, who appeared in a photo with Zurab Girchi Japaridze, leader of the Girchi-More Freedom party. The reports also claimed that Mishveladze would serve as Fischer’s “contact person” regarding the claimed future funding.
Fischer Responds
Ambassador Fischer had already posted a photo of the meeting when it was held, January 15, showing him standing with young people from the Georgian Youth Union, a youth-led alliance of students and political movements. Fischer had described the meeting as “engaging discussion on current affairs,” adding, “They will create our future.”
Responding to the claims from pro-Georgian Dream TV channels, Fischer wrote on January 17 in the comments under the same photo on X, “I tweeted this photo. Imedi and Rustavi 2 saw it and are running a campaign about a “secret” meaning. Repeat: I tweeted this photo. Get it?” adding “#disinformation.”
“We talked about young people’s concern that Georgia’s path to EU is blocked, education reform and deeply polarized environment where dissent is labeled as treason, when in reality it is the essence of democracy. We need ALL the youth for a good future,” he added.
Tbilisi, Berlin in Strained Relations
Amid continued attacks against Western ambassadors, with Peter Fischer often a particular target, relations between Tbilisi and Berlin, as with other Western capitals, have seriously deteriorated.
On October 19, Germany recalled Ambassador Fischer for consultations, citing Georgian leaders’ continued “agitation” against the European Union, Germany and the ambassador personally. Fischer returned to Tbilisi on November 6, with Berlin reiterating its “full support” for the ambassador’s work in Georgia.
Before the recall, Georgian Dream officials had targeted Fischer with accusations of meddling in the country’s domestic politics and siding with the opposition. Pro-government media had also carried similar reports alleging his meetings with opposition politicians.
Berlin repeatedly defended its ambassador, rejecting the accusations against Fischer as “baseless” and denouncing the “aggressive rhetoric” of Georgian Dream officials.
Also Read:
- 28/11/2025 – German Ambassador Speaks with RFE/RL About GD Attacks, Bilateral Relations, EU Prospects
- 02/10/2025 – Germany Summons Georgian Diplomat Over Attacks on Its Ambassador
- 24/09/2025 – Georgian Foreign Ministry Summons German Ambassador Peter Fischer
- 17/09/2025 – GD Attacks Western Ambassadors After Pro-Gov’t Media Alleges Opposition Meetings
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