While Norwegian officials maintain that standard protocol dictated inviting all diplomatic representatives, experts warn that images of Kavelashvili standing alongside Western leaders will be leveraged by the ruling Georgian Dream party to project international normalization and demoralize domestic opposition.
Diplomatic Protocol Versus Domestic Legitimacy in Georgia
The presence of Kavelashvili in Oslo has drawn fierce criticism from regional experts and local observers. According to John Færseth, a journalist, author, and Georgia specialist who published the 2026 book Georgia – demokrati i revers, Kavelashvili’s presidency lacks foundational validity. Færseth states that Kavelashvili was selected in December 2024 by an electoral college controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, a body stemming from the disputed October 2024 parliamentary elections characterized by widespread voting irregularities documented by election observers.
Furthermore, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in February 2025 explicitly refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities established after those elections, continuing instead to recognize former President Salomé Zourabichvili as the legitimate head of state. Despite this lack of Western recognition, Kavelashvili has actively distributed photographs and video clips across social media showing his interactions with high-profile global figures in Oslo, framing the trip as proof of his standing among world leaders.
How Autocratic Regimes Exploit State Funerals
Andersen explains that Norway faced a rigid protocol dilemma. According to Andersen, excluding a sitting head of state requires an extreme political stance, and failing to issue an invitation risks sending an intentional diplomatic snub. Consequently, standard protocol dictates that all accredited nations are invited to funerals.
However, Andersen notes that authoritarian regimes frequently weaponize standard international protocol. While European leaders and diplomats easily separate formal etiquette from political endorsement, that vital distinction vanishes when broadcast to a domestic audience in Georgia. Færseth concurs, warning that the imagery from Oslo can be utilized by the regime to tell domestic voters and protesters that Western powers ultimately accept Kavelashvili, thereby demoralizing the opposition.
Did you know? According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all nations with a diplomatic representation in Oslo received invitations to King Harald’s funeral, alongside NATO, EEA, and EU member states, with specific restrictions applied strictly to Russia, Sudan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan.
Official Response from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Faced with mounting criticism, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its guest list while declining to comment on the specific political fallout. In an email statement to Nettavisen, the ministry confirmed that invitations followed broad diplomatic rules:
“Alle land med diplomatisk representasjon i Oslo ble invitert, i tillegg til medlemslandene i Nato, EØS og EU som ikke har representasjon i Norge. Det ble gjort en særskilt vurdering for Russland, Sudan, Myanmar og Afghanistan, som kun ble invitert på diplomatisk nivå.”
The ministry added that it had no further commentary regarding whether additional safeguards were implemented to prevent the event from being utilized for political propaganda by contested leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mikheil Kavelashvili invited to King Harald’s funeral?
According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, standard diplomatic protocol dictates that all nations with formal diplomatic representation in Oslo, alongside key international alliance members, receive standard invitations to funerals.
Does Norway recognize Mikheil Kavelashvili as the legitimate president of Georgia?
No. Norwegian authorities have emphasized that extending a protocol-based invitation to a funeral does not constitute political endorsement or recognition of a leader’s disputed legitimacy.
How are opposition groups in Georgia responding to the Oslo visit?
According to Georgia expert John Færseth, domestic opposition groups and former President Salomé Zourabichvili reject Kavelashvili’s legitimacy entirely, expressing deep concern that the ruling Georgian Dream party will use photos from the Oslo event to convince voters that the West has accepted the regime.