Estonia imposes visa requirement on Georgian diplomatic passport holders

The Estonian government has imposed a visa requirement on holders of Georgian diplomatic and service passports, aligning with a broader European Union directive.

“This is a decision adopted by the European Union, which each member state must implement in its own legislation,” Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, per Caliber.Az.

“The introduction of a visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports is another step to show that the international community, including the European Union, does not accept the repression of ordinary people, protesters and journalists, the impunity of the police and the silencing of civil society by Georgia’s ruling party, the Georgian Dream (GD),” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

Tsahkna also noted that the restriction of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens with biometric passports is also under discussion in the European Union.

Notably, Estonia has imposed an entry ban on 83 Georgian citizens due to their involvement in human rights violations, particularly in suppressing protests, journalists, and opposition leaders. This action reflects Estonia's commitment to supporting democratic values and human rights in Georgia.

On March 3, 2025, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced that an order had come into effect, imposing an entry ban on 55 additional Georgian individuals. This followed an earlier decision on December 2, 2024, to ban 11 Georgian officials, including Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri and Bidzina Ivanishvili, Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The latest sanctions target individuals such as judges, prosecutors, police officers, members of parliament, and media platform creators associated with the political movement Alt-Info. These individuals are accused of participating in or threatening violence against protesters, journalists, and opposition leaders.

Estonia's sanctions are part of a coordinated effort by the Baltic states to address concerns over democratic backsliding in Georgia. Latvia and Lithuania have also imposed similar travel bans on Georgian officials. Latvia has added 16 individuals to its persona non grata list, while Lithuania has sanctioned 74 Georgian citizens. These measures are in response to the Georgian government's actions against pro-Western protesters and media, as well as the suspension of the country's EU integration process.

By Khagan Isayev