Partner or Spectator? Georgia’s Democracy Thanks America – and Waits for Germany

On May 11, a remarkable march took place in Tbilisi. No angry crowds, no protest banners, no calls for justice. Instead: a silent, deliberate “thank you.” The destination was the U.S. Embassy; the occasion, the clear and unequivocal support of the United States for Georgia’s democratic forces.

It was a polite gesture – and at the same time, a quiet reproach to those Western partners whose voices have grown conspicuously faint in recent years. A demonstration of gratitude – and of disappointment.

USA: Principle over Politics

The United States has built a reputation in Georgia that could best be described using a German word that seems to have been forgotten in Berlin: reliability. Whether under Democrats or Republicans, Washington has consistently supported those standing up for democratic rights. Investigative journalists, civil society groups, opposition politicians – the U.S. always had the right instincts.

Sanctions, clear diplomatic language, targeted support for civil society – American engagement was not just visible, but tangible. That Georgians are now publicly saying thank you is not a performance, but a logical consequence.

Germany: Between Decency and “Anschlussfähigkeit”

The situation on the other side of the Atlantic is quite different. Berlin – often self-styled as the moral compass of global politics – was notable during Georgia’s recent democratic crisis for one thing above all: its absence.

A particularly illustrative example: Hubert Knirsch, German Ambassador to Tbilisi from 2018 to 2022. His tenure – to put it mildly – lacked diplomatic backbone. Critics accuse him of having grown too comfortable with the ruling “Georgian Dream” party. A revealing detail: his wife, Eva-Maria Knirsch, was employed at Kutaisi International University – an institution financed by none other than Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s informal ruler.

That a German ambassador was personally linked to an elite university bankrolled by an oligarch was, unsurprisingly, not interpreted in Tbilisi as coincidence – but as a message. And not a good one.

Careers with the “GIZ Seal of Quality”

Other cases also raise uncomfortable questions about Germany’s past engagement.

Shalva Papuashvili, now Speaker of Parliament, was for years Deputy Program Manager at GIZ. Today, he defends the so-called “foreign agents law” with notable zeal – a piece of legislation modeled after Russian repression, branding foreign-funded NGOs as “agents.”

Tamar Zodelava, also a former GIZ associate, now heads Georgia’s state funding agency. Under her leadership, independence criteria for civil society appear to be increasingly replaced by standards of loyalty.

In short: German organizations helped advance careers that are now dismantling the very structures German tax money was supposed to protect.

Hope for a Course Correction: Peter Fischer and Friedrich Merz

It would, however, be unfair to indict all of German foreign policy. Peter Fischer, German Ambassador to Tbilisi since 2022, is taking visibly different steps. Unlike his predecessor, Fischer speaks openly about democratic setbacks, criticizes authoritarian tendencies, and supports EU integration with clarity.

His willingness to take a stand where others remain silent has earned him recognition in Georgia – and inspires hope that Germany might change course.

This shift is now also supported at the highest level: newly elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made clear in his foreign policy agenda that Georgia’s path toward the EU depends on the protection of democratic standards. The message is clear: no deals with autocrats.

Trust Is Not a Courtesy

The march to the U.S. Embassy was symbolic – and a diplomatic status report. The United States has earned trust – because it has lived up to it. Germany, on the other hand, must work to earn that trust back.

Those who speak the language of democracy should not preach it at receptions while simultaneously supporting those who dismantle press freedom, criminalize NGOs, and manipulate elections.

Georgia is a European country with European aspirations. Those who wish to support that path must stop being dazzled by old networks.

Thank you, America.And Germany? We’ll see you at the next march.