The Ministry of Internal Affairs has issued a statement following a meeting in Brussels between delegations from Georgia and the European Commission as part of the visa dialogue. The meeting focused on the EU’s decision to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) asserts that the European Commission’s decision is unfair and based on a biased assessment of the situation in the country.
“The European Commission’s decision is based on a report that assesses the situation in Georgia in a biased manner and, in itself, does not allow for proper and objective conclusions. Consequently, the decision to temporarily suspend the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports, made on the basis of insufficiently substantiated conclusions, is unfair.
Despite this, within the framework of the visa dialogue, the parties discussed the reasons cited by the EU for triggering the visa suspension mechanism, the recommendations of the European Commission, and the steps that Georgia has already taken or continues to take to implement them.
It was emphasized that the Constitution of Georgia and current legislation guarantee the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, including freedom of expression, assembly and demonstration, freedom of association, the right to privacy, and equality.
It was noted that effective national mechanisms for the protection of human rights are in place in the country, and the strengthening of relevant institutions is ongoing. It was also stated that the regularly organized protest actions by political parties and civil activists, which have been taking place over a long period, serve as evidence of the guaranteed right to peaceful assembly and demonstration.
It was noted that, despite the violent nature of the 2024 protests and attacks on state institutions and law enforcement agencies, investigative actions continue to identify instances of abuse of power, abuse of office, and other violations by public officials and law enforcement officers. It was emphasized that five people are currently in custody on charges of abuse of power during the dispersal of the 2024 protests, as well as one episode of obstructing journalistic activity, and judicial proceedings against them are ongoing.
It was also stated that demands for the repeal of laws passed by the elected legislature are groundless, as these laws were adopted based on Georgia’s national and public interests and do not contradict any international convention or agreement to which the country is a party. Furthermore, it was noted that the Constitution and legislation of Georgia provide effective mechanisms for combating discrimination.
During the meeting, the progress made by Georgia in the areas of migration management, prevention of illegal migration, and readmission was also reviewed. It was emphasized that Georgia actively cooperates with EU member states and relevant European agencies.
Special attention was paid to the fight against corruption, the creation of an asset recovery office, the development of a new anti-corruption strategy, and the strengthening of the institutional capacity of the State Audit Office.
The working group noted that the Georgian authorities are continuing practical work to ensure the sustainability of the visa liberalization process with the EU. At the same time, it was emphasized that political manipulation surrounding this issue is unacceptable.
The Georgian side reaffirmed its readiness to continue constructive cooperation with the European Union based on mutual respect, equality, and common interests, and also emphasized the importance of high-level political dialogue,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia stated.