Latvia declares 55 Georgian citizens persona non grata amid democratic concerns

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has declared 55 Georgian citizens persona non grata, citing concerns over anti-democratic actions by the Georgian government.

According to a statement by Latvia’s Foreign Ministry, the individuals have been banned from entering Latvia for an indefinite period, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"The listed individuals are prohibited from entering Latvia indefinitely," the ministry noted, without specifying the identities of those affected.

The move comes amid growing criticism from Western governments and institutions over Tbilisi’s recent political decisions, including controversial legislation perceived as curbing democratic freedoms and undermining European integration efforts.

Georgia’s political landscape has deteriorated since the October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections, where the ruling Georgian Dream party secured 53.9% of the vote, allowing it to form a government independently. The European Parliament and opposition parties rejected the results, citing systemic violations. Protests erupted in Tbilisi, met with violent crackdowns, including arrests of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists.

In November 2024, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced Georgia’s suspension of EU accession talks until 2028, citing pressure from Brussels over a controversial “foreign agents” law, likened to Russia’s repressive legislation. This law, passed in June 2024, targets NGOs and media receiving foreign funding, stifling civil society and prompting the EU to suspend Georgia’s membership process and visa-free regime for officials.

By Khagan Isayev