EU May Suspend Visa-Free Travel with Georgia
The European Union is expecting parliamentary elections in Georgia, which are scheduled for October 26.
The European Union hopes that the election campaign will be fair and honest.
This hope was expressed by the EU Ambassador to Tbilisi, Pavel Gerchinsky, RIA Novosti reports.
As the diplomat noted, the distance between Brussels and Tbilisi has recently increased due to various processes taking place in the country.
For example, the European Union is dissatisfied and condemns some decisions that have been made by the Georgian parliament recently. This includes the adoption of the law on foreign agents and the ban on LGBT*.
At the same time, a visa-free regime has been in effect between EU countries and Georgia since 2017, and the country itself has had the status of a candidate for membership in the union since last year.
However, in light of recent events, Gerchinsky did not rule out that the European Union may resort to suspending visa liberalization if the situation continues to deteriorate.
*This movement is considered extremist in Russia and is prohibited
