EU warns it may revoke visa-free regime for Georgia due to backsliding on democracy
Illustrative photo: The EU stated it may revoke Georgia's visa-free regime (Getty Images)
The European Union may suspend the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. This would be a response to the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian government and its anti-Western rhetoric, according to Politico.
According to the agency, a representative of the EU executive confirmed the information about the possible revocation of visa-free travel for Georgians. He stated that if the Georgian Dream party continues its authoritarian course, all response options are possible, “including the potential temporary suspension of the visa liberalization scheme.”
"As part of the EU-Georgia visa liberalization dialogue and the corresponding Action Plan, Georgia was required to meet specific benchmarks, including ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and preventing discrimination," a spokesperson for the European Commission said.
According to Politico, a reassessment will be conducted if there are developments that pose a risk to the internal security of the Schengen zone.
It is worth noting that since 2017, Georgian citizens have been able to visit EU countries within the Schengen zone for up to six months a year without a visa.
Background
Earlier, the Georgian parliament supported a law on the transparency of foreign influence, similar to one that has been in place in Russia for several years. This law requires Georgian organizations receiving foreign funding to register as "foreign agents."
By supporting this law, the Georgian government damaged its relations with the West, notably halting the process of Georgia's EU accession. Additionally, the US imposed sanctions on several Georgian officials.
