Georgia recalls two ambassadors ahead of schedule

Georgia is recalling two ambassadors appointed by former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is accused of legalising illegal income.

From December 20, Zaza Kandelaki will no longer serve as ambassador to Israel, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Telegram channel of Sputnik Georgia. He has held the post since January 2024.

From December 22, Tarash Papaskua will lose his position as ambassador to South Korea; he was appointed in November 2022.

Notably, last November, he criticised the authorities’ decision to suspend negotiations on the country’s EU accession until 2028.

The decree was signed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze from the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has not yet explained the reasons for these decisions.

The former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has recently been indicted on charges of large-scale money laundering.

Prosecutors say he secretly earned and laundered “illegal income” while in office — allegedly concealing it by misreporting gifts from family members and routing funds through companies tied to relatives.

By Jeyhun Aghazada