Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s Foreign Ministry is facing criticism following a wave of dismissals that appear to target pro-Western diplomats.

Dozens of employees, many of them having decades of service, have reportedly been let go in recent days. Most were working on bringing the country closer to NATO and the EU. Some had also signed a November 2023 petition calling for Georgia to stay the course on Euro-Atlantic integration.

The twin goals of joining the EU and NATO have defined Georgia’s foreign policy since the 2003 Rose Revolution. But in recent years, they’ve become a point of fierce contention between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and opposition groups.

While the GD government insists it remains committed to the policy, critics accuse it of abandoning the West under Kremlin influence.

Tensions spiked last autumn when the EU signaled a cooling of relations and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would pause its EU membership efforts until 2028. In response, around 250 foreign ministry employees signed a letter reaffirming their support for Euro-Atlantic integration as “the will and historic choice of the Georgian people.”

Many of those signatories are now being dismissed. Former Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua called the move a loss of institutional memory. Ex-Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze described it as political persecution.

Opposition politician Grigol Gegelia accused Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili of breaking her promise not to carry out political firings.

While some analysts, like Davit Zurabishvili, called it a political purge, Petre Mamradze defended the reorganization, citing staff redundancies and lack of loyalty.

While the European Parliament has criticized Georgia for democratic backsliding, EU leaders have so far held back on sanctions. Earlier this year, diplomat passport holders lost their visa-free rights. Broader visa waivers remain under review.