EU suspends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials
The EU Foreign Affairs Council has decided to suspend the visa-free regime for Georgian officials and diplomats.
This is reported by the press service of the European Council, Censor.NET informs.
"The EU Council today decided to suspend part of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Georgia. This may lead to the fact that Georgian diplomats and officials will be required to apply for a visa to travel to the EU," the statement said.
It was noted that Georgian officials and diplomats will no longer be able to use the reduced visa application processing time, discounts on visa fees, and the ability to submit fewer documents to obtain a European visa to visit EU countries.
"The decision is a reaction to the adoption last year in Georgia of the 'law on transparency of foreign influence' and the legislative package 'on family values and protection of minors'. The EU believes that these acts undermine the fundamental rights of the people of Georgia, including the freedoms of assembly and expression, privacy, and participation in public affairs, and increase stigma and discrimination. Such actions by Georgia violate the fundamental principles on which the agreement (on visa facilitation - Ed.) was concluded, and are contrary to the interests of the EU and its member states," they said.
This decision is also a response to the violent repression unleashed by Georgian authorities against peaceful demonstrators, opposition politicians and independent media after the government announced on November 28, 2024 that it did not seek negotiations with the EU until 2028.
Protests in Georgia against the rejection of European integration
On November 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that his country was refusing to negotiate EU membership by 2028, as well as any budget grants from the EU.
After that, rallies began in Tbilisi.
Georgian leader Salome Zurabishvili joined the protesters in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi.
On the night of November 29-30, 2024, Georgian security forces used force and special equipment to disperse protesters who had gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. Police detained 107 protesters.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said against the backdrop of the brutal suppression of protests that the country's authorities would not allow a repeat of the Ukrainian Euromaidan scenario.
On Saturday, November 30, thousands of protesters again gathered in Tbilisi against the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to abandon negotiations with the EU on accession by 2028. Protests also continue in other cities across the country.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who supported the protests in the country, said that the country's parliament was illegitimate and therefore would not be able to elect a new president, and that her mandate would continue until a new president was elected by a new parliament.
Later, the ruling party's candidate Mikheil Kavelashvili was declared the winner of the presidential election in Georgia.
