The Lithuanian government has approved a decree cancelling the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomats and officials, the Delfi news and analysis website reported.
The resolution was adopted on the basis of the EU Council’s decision in January to tighten the visa regime for Georgian officials and diplomats. Now they and their family members will not be able to visit Lithuania for short-term stays without a visa, as well as deprived of the right to use a simplified procedure for applying for long-term visas.
Earlier, the visa-free regime for Georgian officials and diplomats was cancelled by the Estonian authorities. “The introduction of a visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports is another step that shows that the international community, including the EU, does not accept repression of ordinary people, protesters and journalists, police impunity and silencing by the ruling Georgian Dream party,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.