Georgia’s ruling party claims EU using visa-free travel as political weapon

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has accused the European Union of interfering in Georgia’s internal political processes ahead of the country’s upcoming local elections, warning that pressure over the visa liberalisation issue is being used as a political tool.

According to Georgian media, Papuashvili said on July 22  that the Georgian opposition’s lack of substantive ideas has left it incapable of influencing the electorate, prompting external actors to step in, Caliber.Az reports.

“Since they see that the radical opposition is unable to offer society any ideas, in this context of a lack of ideas, an attempt is being made from outside to impose a topic that can once again lead society into the same false dilemmas related to the elections,” Papuashvili stated.

His remarks come in response to a recent letter sent by the European Commission to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warning that visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the European Union could be suspended unless the government fulfils specific conditions. These conditions relate primarily to recently adopted laws on “foreign agents” and what the EU describes as “LGBT propaganda.”

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has stated that Georgia must comply with the EU’s recommendations by the end of August or face the consequences, including the suspension of the visa-free regime.

Papuashvili dismissed the EU’s position as political coercion. “This is not really about a real solution, but rather an attempt at blackmail,” he said, emphasising that such external actions are designed to manipulate Georgia’s domestic affairs, particularly in the lead-up to the elections.

Drawing a parallel to last year’s developments, the Georgian parliamentary speaker asserted that once again, “external pressure is being used to influence internal processes in Georgia, especially in the run-up to the elections.”

He further argued that the pattern of foreign decisions and public messaging was deliberately orchestrated to “put pressure on society and interfere in the formation of the electoral will.”

Papuashvili also underlined the timing of the EU’s ultimatum, noting that the deadline of late August was not coincidental, as it marks the start of Georgia’s active election campaign season. He added that the radical opposition is already circulating rhetoric about destabilisation and attempting to change the government by force.

By Tamilla Hasanova