Georgia slams Estonia's visa tightening rules as hostile

Georgian officials have sharply criticised Estonia’s recent decision to impose a visa regime on Georgian citizens holding diplomatic and service passports, calling it an unfriendly act and a blow to bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described Estonia’s move as “an extremely unfriendly step towards the Georgian people and state,” but reaffirmed that Tbilisi remains committed to a policy of unilateral friendship, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media. 

The new visa requirements, announced on May 8, follow mounting concerns in Europe over the Georgian government’s handling of domestic dissent. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the measure reflects the EU’s broader disagreement with the repressive actions of the "Georgian Dream" against civil society, protesters, and media representatives.

Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi and Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream party, echoed the prime minister’s sentiments while stressing the importance of mutual respect in international relations. 

“We need friendship, we want cooperation and partnership—but all of this must be mutual,” Kaladze said during a televised interview on Imedi TV.

“Georgia is not someone’s backyard. We are an independent country. Our ancestors fought for this independence, sacrificed themselves, shed their blood—and this must be protected and preserved. Our sovereignty needs to be strengthened,” he noted. 

According to him, no one has the right to dictate anything to Georgia from the outside. 

“Perhaps some are larger countries with stronger economies, but we are proud of our past, our traditions, our culture—everything we have and everything that has brought us to where we are today: our faith, our church. This is what makes us and Georgia unique. I believe this is also what makes us interesting to Europe,” he said.

Estonia’s latest move follows a series of sanctions it imposed in December 2024 against 25 Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Kobakhidze. Lithuania also sanctioned the Georgian premier and 28 other officials, while Latvia targeted figures from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling party.

By Sabina Mammadli