The European Commission has named the requirements for Georgia to maintain a visa-free regime

The European Commission demanded that the Georgian authorities respect human rights and repeal repressive laws, naming these demands among the conditions for maintaining the visa-free regime. The Georgian authorities stated that they would prefer maintaining stability to a visa-free regime.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on July 9, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Georgia, which, in particular, emphasizes that Salome Zurabishvili is the legitimate president of Georgia. The document states that the process of Georgia's European integration is "effectively suspended" as a result of the ongoing democratic regression in Georgia and the falsification of the parliamentary elections in October 2024. The suspension of the visa-free regime with Georgia in response to the regression of democracy and repression against participants in pro-European protests was discussed on July 15 at a meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers. The meeting participants notified Tbilisi of the conditions for continuing the visa-free regime.

A list of eight recommendations has been made public that Tbilisi must implement to improve relations with Brussels, including removing the possibility of canceling the visa-free regime with the EU from the agenda. The letter from Beate Gminder, Director General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, was sent to Maka Bochorishvili, the head of the Georgian Dream government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Novosti Georgia reports.

The recommendations include ensuring and supporting the protection of the fundamental rights of all Georgian citizens, including freedom of association, assembly and expression, the right to privacy, participation in public affairs, as well as the prohibition of discrimination; repeal any legislative acts that may restrict fundamental rights and freedoms, are contrary to the principle of non-discrimination and do not comply with European and international standards. In particular, to repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence and the legislative package on Family Values and Protection of Minors, and to amend the national strategy and action plan on human rights in order to fully ensure the rights of LGBTQ* persons.

The European Commission also demands that Georgia’s visa policy be aligned with the list of third countries whose citizens require a visa to the EU, especially with regard to countries that pose risks of illegal migration or security threats to the EU, to strengthen measures to reduce the number of unfounded asylum applications and cases of illegal stay in EU countries, to create an Asset Recovery Office and an Asset Management Office, to continue efforts to identify, seize, manage, confiscate and sell property, to adopt a new anti-corruption strategy and action plan, and to amend the Law on the Anti-Corruption Bureau taking into account the key recommendations of the Venice Commission commission, as well as to bring the Law on the Protection of Personal Data into line with EU legislation, the statement says.

If the question arises: peace and stability or a visa-free regime, we will give preference to peace and stability, said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

"We have a clear answer to everything. When it comes to prisoners, we have a clear answer: each prisoner committed a specific crime. Let them start with that. Let them be so kind as to justify if they have any legal questions about this or that case. There are no such questions, and these are empty political ultimatums, which is unfortunate. As for the laws, the law related to family values, the protection of the interests of minors, and openness are very important for our country. Laws on transparency, this is the law on the transparency of revolutions, if someone wants to finance revolutionary processes in Georgia, let them do it openly, if they do not want to, then it is incomprehensible," Interpressnews quoted him as saying.

"When you are told that you should not adopt a law restricting foreign forces from making revolutions, this means that you are being threatened with the loss of peace and stability. If the question arises: peace and stability or a visa-free regime, Of course, we will give preference to peace and stability. We choose peace and stability, we will not give them up!.. Liberalization of the visa regime means that a citizen of Georgia will need a visa to travel to Europe, as for the rest, peace, stability, family values - these are existential questions. Whether a citizen will travel to Europe with or without a visa is not an existential question.