EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has confirmed that the suspension of visa-free travel with Georgia is being considered because of the country’s “serious setback” in democratic development.
“All options are on the table – including suspension of the visa-free regime and other measures that could change the Georgian government’s calculations,” Kallas said ahead of an EU Council meeting in Brussels.
She said the EU had prepared a list of measures in response to the “disproportionate sentences” of protesters, among them young people. Kallas emphasised that this pointed to the problematic nature of the judiciary, which she said was part of a repressive apparatus.
She confirmed that the names of two Georgian judges were included in the new sanctions package. She said the EU had previously disagreed on the sanctions, but discussions were continuing. Hungary and Slovakia opposed the sanctions measures against Georgia.
“A letter will be sent today to Georgia regarding visa-free travel. Georgia had certain conditions that it had to fulfil. If these conditions are not fulfilled within the set deadline, we will be forced to stop the visa-free regime,” Kallas added, without specifying what deadline will be specified in the letter. According to Radio Liberty, we are talking about October this year.
Earlier, the ruling Georgian Dream party said that talk of a possible suspension of the visa-free regime was “blackmail” and “threats”.