Georgia Faces Potential Suspension of EU Visa-Free Regime, Commission Warns
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs has addressed a letter to Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Bochorishvili. The letter, obtained and published by the Georgian Public Broadcaster, raises serious concerns regarding the current state of human rights and democratic standards in Georgia.
According to the letter, the European Commission’s report identified significant violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Georgia, including breaches of the principle of non-discrimination, contravening both EU and international norms. In response, the Commission has issued a series of recommendations, including demands for greater transparency regarding foreign influence, as well as the repeal of recent legislation concerning so-called “family values” and the protection of minors.
“Given that your authorities have failed to take the necessary corrective measures, in January 2025, the European Union decided to partially suspend the EU–Georgia Visa Waiver Agreement, effectively ending visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports,” the letter states. “As of now, twelve Member States have introduced visa requirements for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders.”
The letter further warns that additional EU Member States are expected to follow suit. If these violations continue, the European Commission may initiate the formal procedure to fully suspend the visa-free regime under Article 8 of the relevant EU Regulation.
“I would like to thank you for your cooperation in addressing this critical matter. The European Union remains committed to a strong, values-based partnership with Georgia,” the letter concludes.
The Commission also reiterated the key recommendations from its 2024 report, urging the Georgian government to:
- Guarantee and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens, including freedom of assembly, expression, and association, the right to privacy, participation in public life, and the prohibition of discrimination;
- Step up efforts to prevent unfounded asylum applications and cases of illegal stay in EU Member States, through public information campaigns on the conditions of the visa-free regime and by tightening border controls;
- Adopt a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan, allocate adequate resources for their implementation, and prioritise the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of high-level corruption cases.
Georgian Dream Accuses European Commission of Attempting to Drag Georgia into War with Russia
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, speaking on behalf of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s political council, has accused the European Commission of waging “completely unfounded attacks” against Georgia. According to Kobakhidze, the alleged aim is to force Georgia into opening a second front in the war against Russia following the removal of the Georgian Dream government.
“Unfortunately, it must be said openly: the European bureaucracy continues to exert pressure on the Georgian government, even more intensely than before. It is now clear that the so-called ‘Global War Party’ is working in close coordination with European bureaucratic institutions to increase blackmail against our country,” Kobakhidze stated.
He claimed that the ultimate objective is to mobilise public dissatisfaction against the current government and forcibly remove Georgian Dream from power. “Our political team is deemed ‘useless’ to the Global War Party in their goal of opening a second front against Russia. Their plan is to replace us with a government run by external agents who will do their bidding. Unlike us, the radical opposition is fully prepared to follow any external directive—especially the most dangerous one: involving Georgia in war,” he said.
Kobakhidze further alleged that demands for Georgia to join the war in Ukraine have not diminished but intensified. “To achieve this, the Global War Party is exploiting EU institutions and individual bureaucrats. The pressure campaign now includes threats to revoke Georgia’s visa-free travel with the EU. This is seen as their final trump card—an attempt to provoke civil unrest that could topple the current government and pave the way for an externally controlled administration,” he warned.
This narrative has been a long-standing conspiracy theory promoted by the ruling party, accusing Western actors of seeking regime change in Georgia through fabricated threats and orchestrated unrest.
In addition to his criticism of the EU, Kobakhidze also addressed the United States, specifically referencing former President Donald Trump. He claimed that the current U.S. administration has failed to correct what he described as past policy mistakes toward Georgia. “Unjustly imposed sanctions remain in place, and our clearly stated desire to reset relations from a clean slate has gone unanswered,” he concluded.
One of the Leaders of UNM Attacked During Live Interview
Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the political council of the United National Movement (UNM), was attacked in public while giving a live interview to TV Pirveli. According to reports, an unidentified individual threw an egg at him during the broadcast.
“This was orchestrated. I told you—they knew where I was, and of course this was planned,” Khabeishvili stated immediately after the incident. “This is the reality we live in. Today it’s eggs; tomorrow it will be weapons. Someone got away, but this one got a response… Everyone will get a response like this. No one is afraid. The Georgian people are crying for you.”
Following the incident, the UNM issued a stark accusation, claiming that the order to kill Khabeishvili was personally issued by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. UNM member Ana Tsitlidze further alleged that one of the individuals involved in the attack, Goga Gogia, is affiliated with the ruling Georgian Dream party.
“This is someone who lives in Mtatsminda and works for the so-called ‘Dream’ group of Palazhenai,” Tsitlidze claimed.
As of now, the attacker has not been detained. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened an investigation under the article related to petty hooliganism. However, it remains unclear whether the individual responsible for the on-air egg assault has even been summoned for questioning.