Brussels proposes suspension of visa release for Georgian officials due to repression

BRUSSELS Dec. 20 () –

The European Commission proposed this Friday the suspension of part of the visa-free agreement for Georgia and requesting visas from diplomats, officials and family members in response to the violent response of the Tbilisi authorities to the democratic protests.

The initiative seeks to eliminate facilities for Georgian diplomats and officials who will have to apply for a visa to travel to the EU for short stays, up to 90 days, and will no longer have faster deadlines, lower fees or the obligation to present fewer documents for obtain said permission.

The measure will not affect the general population of Georgia, who can continue to benefit from visa exemption when traveling to the EU for short-term stays.

This step now has to receive the approval of the Member States, although it does not require unanimity, but rather a qualified majority, so the EU hopes to overcome the reluctance of Hungary and Slovakia, which this Monday blocked the individual sanctions proposed by the High Representative , Kaja Kallas, in the face of democratic drift and internal repression in Georgia.

In fact, Kallas then explained that Member States were seeking to take the step of suspending the release of diplomatic visas as a “symbolic first step” to react to the anti-European behavior of the authorities in Tbilisi.

Once the measure is adopted, Member States will have to take the necessary steps to ensure that they apply for visas to holders of diplomatic, official and special passports issued by Georgia and notify other Member States and the European Commission of these measures. Likewise, the current facilities for Georgian holders of diplomatic and official passports must cease.

The democratic drift in Georgia after the repression of anti-government protests and the open crisis due to the legislative elections last October marked by irregularities has generated widespread criticism of the EU and some countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have imposed their own sanctions against leaders. Georgians, who in full conflict with Brussels have announced that they are freezing EU accession negotiations until 2028.