Georgia: Cem Özdemir suspends Germany's scientific cooperation

Berlin. Federal Education and Research Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) has stopped his ministry's cooperation with the Georgian Ministry of Science. This is evident from a letter to his counterpart Aleksandre Tsuladze, which was made available to RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). He justifies this with the "turning away from the European path".

"For over two months now, the people of Georgia have been demonstrating peacefully for their European future," writes Özdemir. "Among the protesters are numerous scientists who support free science and European integration. Scientific freedom must be protected." This is also the basis of the cooperation between the two countries to date.

He then continues: "The decision of the Georgian head of government to stop the process of joining the European Union and the increasing restrictions on academic freedom in Georgia are, however, preventing the implementation of our cooperation goals. I have therefore decided to pause the planned cooperation activities with your ministry until further notice." This also applies to bilateral funding measures that have already been agreed.

According to the letter, the Green politician also wants to recommend a similar approach to the Alliance of German Scientific Organisations and his colleagues in the EU, because a free society is the basis for scientific work.

There have been demonstrations in the Caucasus country for months because the government wants to bring the former Soviet republic back into line with Russia and distance it from the EU. The protests intensified after the Georgian government announced at the end of November that it would suspend accession negotiations with the EU until 2028. The goal of EU accession is anchored in the Georgian constitution and is supported by large parts of the population.