The European Union is contemplating significant measures that could revoke Georgian citizens’ visa-free travel rights across Europe. This decision marks a serious deterioration in relations between Brussels and Georgia, once seen as a promising candidate for EU membership.
In an exclusive statement to POLITICO, a European Commission spokesperson indicated that “all options are on the table” if the ruling Georgian Dream party persists with its authoritarian policies. This could include a temporary suspension of the visa liberalization agreement.
The visa-free arrangement, established in 2017, allows Georgians to visit Schengen zone countries for up to six months per year without a visa. This popular scheme has saved Georgians from lengthy and costly visa application procedures.
The spokesperson noted that under the EU-Georgia visa liberalization agreement, Georgia was obligated to meet certain conditions. These included safeguarding fundamental rights and preventing discrimination. The EU will assess whether recent developments in Georgia pose a threat to the Schengen area’s internal security and democratic standards.
Brussels’ consideration of these measures follows Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s dismissal of any changes to the visa agreement as “cheap blackmail.” This response comes after the U.S. imposed sanctions on key Georgian Dream figures for enacting laws similar to those in Russia, which critics argue undermine civil liberties.
Earlier this year, Georgian authorities violently suppressed peaceful protests against a controversial bill labeling Western-backed NGOs and media as foreign agents. This crackdown effectively stalled Georgia’s EU candidacy.
Adding to the tension, Georgian Dream MPs recently passed a “LGBT propaganda” law inspired by Moscow. This legislation bans public discussion of same-sex relationships, including Pride events, and requires censorship of related media. The following day, the country’s prominent transgender figure, Kesaria Abramidze, was killed, and a suspect has been detained.
Georgians will vote on October 26, with polls suggesting that the Georgian Dream party is set to secure a significant number of seats. Should they achieve a supermajority, the party has pledged to “punish” its rivals by banning nearly all opposition parties.