The Commission’s proposal will only apply to Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports, exempting the general population.
The European Commission has proposed to suspend the visa-free travel regime for Georgian diplomats and officials in response to the violent crackdown on protesters, who have been taking to the streets for weeks to denounce the ruling party’s gradual pivot away from Europe and towards Russia.
The demonstrations, now in their 22nd day, began in late November after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze unexpectedly announced he would not pursue EU membership talks until 2028, despite an obligation in the Constitution that compels state bodies to “take all measures within the scope of their competences” to ensure Georgia’s integration.
The violent suppression of pro-EU protesters has led to chaotic clashes on the streets, arrests of opposition figures, multiple reports of injured people and hundreds of arrests, coupled with accusations of beatings, torture and robbery at the hands of the police.
The outrage has been compounded by the raft of irregularities that marred the parliamentary election of October, which saw Kobakhidze’s party secure a majority.
