Georgia rejects EU "blackmail" over visa-free travel

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said that the European Union will not be able to force concessions from Tbilisi through pressure or threats as discussions continue over Georgia’s visa-free travel regime with the bloc.

Speaking to reporters, Kobakhidze dismissed what he described as attempts to intimidate Georgia by raising the prospect of suspending visa-free travel for Georgian citizens, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

“This is an attempt at blackmail, but such attempts have become so devalued over the years that Georgian society no longer reacts to them,” he said.

According to the prime minister, warnings about the possible cancellation of the visa-free regime reflect broader problems within European institutions and among what he referred to as “local agents.”

“When people are threatened with the cancellation of the visa-free regime through local agents, it speaks to the difficult situation that has developed within the European bureaucracy and among local agents,” Kobakhidze said.

He argued that pressure tactics would be ineffective because the Georgian public understands the political context surrounding the issue.

“They will not achieve results through pressure and threats because society already understands very well what is happening. Therefore, blackmail will not work under any circumstances,” he added.

By Vafa Guliyeva