Tea Katukia, the Georgian ambassador to France, resigned on July 1. Katukia's Facebook post indicates that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has exerted persistent pressure on her since the day she was hired for the position. Tea Katukia asserts that she sent her resignation letter to the Georgian Foreign Minister on May 1, which became effective on July 1. She thanked President Salome Zourabichvili for placing her in a position of considerable responsibility. 

In recent months, Caucasus Watch stated that Georgia's government and President Salome Zourabichvili have made contradictory statements regarding whether or not the President has vetoed ambassadorial appointments. On March 29, the Government Administration denied claims made by the media, citing the Presidential Administration, that President Zourabichvili had approved all nominations for ambassadors in the previous year.

Here is the complete Facebook post by Katukia: 

        "During the fulfilment of the assigned mandate, my goal was to protect the interests of Georgia to the maximum, without political bias, and to bring our country closer to France and the European Union. My decision to resign was preceded by constant pressure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on me from the first day of my appointment to the position of ambassador.

I didn't expect the Georgian government to reject my international career path and my political objectivity given that I've lived in France for the past 25 years and hold French citizenship.

The interests and reputation of the Georgian representation in France were seriously hurt by a number of fundamental infractions and structural flaws in the embassy that I saw from the very first day. The incessant abuse, slander, pressure, harassment, and threats that come from systemic clientelism and deep-seated clan habits and run against to the principles I espouse and the ambitions I have for Georgia are something I could never have imagined having to execute.

I deeply believe that the above-mentioned actions, which are unacceptable for a legal state, do not reflect the reality of Georgian society. The aspirations of our society are based on the values ​​of freedom and justice—those values ​​which are fundamental and indivisible for every citizen of Georgia, and which impose on us the obligation of unity and responsibility.

The mentioned situation did not prevent me from fulfilling the assigned mission, of course, at the cost of great personal efforts and under the conditions of significant limitation of activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During my mandate, I firmly continued to defend Georgia’s European future with decision-makers in France. The mentioned mission was and is carrying a special significance considering that today our country is at an important stage of history. Today, the European future of our country and its democratic development depends solely on the political choice of the Georgian government.

In this crucial context, significant staffing and structural problems, as I myself have witnessed and which the diplomatic service of Georgia is facing, prevent the country from pursuing an effective foreign policy in response to the challenges facing us.

I leave the post of ambassador today, but my thoughts are with Georgia, even in the new professional stage, I will continue to take care of the country’s political and democratic development and will spare no effort to make Georgia’s move towards the European Union and, in general, towards democratic, progressive, and tolerant values irreversible.”

In its turn, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming Tea Katukia's resignation as the country's ambassador to France, stating that the decision was made following consultations with the Ministry. In addition, the Ministry deemed Tea Katukia's remarks to be defamatory. 

Response from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 

       " We are absolutely astonished by the slanderous accusations Ms Tea Katukia has leveled against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador resigned her position following the prior consultations, to let her know that the Ministry was not content with the way she had been performing her work as Georgia’s Ambassador to France. Regrettably, she failed to discharge her duties with competence and to uphold effectively the interests of Georgia in the important European country such as France. In view of the above-mentioned considerations, the Ministry decided to recall the Ambassador, through consultations with her.

Georgia’s relationship with France, including the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration agenda, has recently entered a very important stage. This calls for a highly qualified and experienced diplomat to assume the position of Georgia’s Ambassador to France.” 

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