“Diplomacy has never seen anything like this!” – This is how Georgia’s fifth President, Salome Zurabishvili, reacted to the official opening of Georgia’s Consulate General in Milan.

As Zurabishvili writes on social media, the authorities are indifferent to diplomatic isolation, and any photo opportunity or handshake has become a rare and priceless achievement for them.

“The consulate in Milan has been operating since November 24, 2023, and the consul, Natalia Kordzaia, was appointed in September 2023! A belated ‘opening’ ceremony—with half of the so-called government participating, full of pomp, with a choir flown in, meaning serious expenses—how can this be explained?

First, to show the people that sanctions don’t affect them, that they can go wherever they want and go ‘shopping.’

Second, they don’t care about diplomatic isolation, but any picture or handshake has become a coveted, priceless thing to them, which is why they wave these photos around.

In short, everything is staged to create a Potemkin village—to convince the public that everything is fine and continuing as before, that they represent the state and act like a state! If only the entire politburo could be sent to Milan…”

– wrote Salome Zurabishvili on Facebook.

For context, the Consulate General of Georgia in Milan was officially opened. The event, held at the Visconti Palace, was attended by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze together with Irakli Kobakhidze. According to Tbilisi City Hall, the mayor addressed the attendees and noted that the opening of the consulate would further deepen the relationship between the two countries and simplify services for Georgian citizens.