Germany has recalled its ambassador to Georgia, Peter Fischer, for consultations following what Berlin has described as an orchestrated, months-long “hate campaign” by the Georgian authorities targeting the ambassador personally.

The move represents a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Berlin and Tbilisi and comes on the eve of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, where Georgia’s increasingly confrontational stance toward Western partners is expected to feature prominently.

“For many months, the Georgian leadership has been agitating against the EU, Germany, also German Ambassador Fischer personally,” the German Foreign Office announced on X on October 19. The statement added that Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had made the decision to bring Fischer back to Berlin “for consultations on how to proceed”. 

Relations between Berlin and Tbilisi have sharply deteriorated in recent months as Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party escalates its rhetoric against Western diplomats.

In September, Fischer was summoned by Georgia’s foreign ministry — a first in bilateral history — over alleged interference in domestic politics.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili accused Fischer of supporting the opposition and even suggested expelling him. Papuashvili went further, claiming “thugs” linked to the ambassador attacked GD’s headquarters — an accusation Germany dismissed as baseless.

Berlin responded by summoning Georgia’s chargé d’affaires and issuing a sharp rebuke, calling the accusations “unacceptable.” Germany's Foreign Office has repeatedly defended Fischer and warned Georgia against spreading false narratives.

On 24 September, 27 embassies in Tbilisi jointly defended the work of foreign diplomats, stressing their activities comply fully with the Vienna Convention.

Germany has been a key supporter of Georgia’s EU bid, but the recall signals growing concern over Tbilisi’s political trajectory. The worsening rhetoric — and targeting of Western diplomats — risks further straining Georgia’s ties with Brussels ahead of key decisions on its accession path.

The ambassador’s recall is not a formal diplomatic break but is widely seen as a sharp warning from Berlin that relations may worsen unless Georgia recalibrates its approach.

Germany has not indicated how long Fischer will remain in Berlin or what specific measures might follow.