Georgian Parliament official on European Parliament report: dividing Georgian citizens into categories “complete absurdity”

Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Thursday responded to the European Parliament’s resolution on Georgia, saying it was unacceptable to give different visa privileges to certain groups of citizens.

Samkharadze made the remarks while commenting on the European Parliament’s recently adopted report on Georgia prepared by MEP Rasa Juknevičienė.

“It is impossible for someone to come up with the idea of dividing Georgian citizens into categories and saying that if someone is a journalist or a student, they should have some other privilege than, for example, a chemist or a teacher. Therefore, this is complete absurdity”, Samkharadze said.

He added that the European Commission would not take such a recommendation into consideration.

“I can tell you directly that the European Commission will certainly not take this call into account,” Samkharadze stated.

The European Parliament adopted Rasa Juknevičienė’s report on Georgia. The report was approved by 436 votes in favour and 145 against.

The report adopted by the European Parliament discusses sanctions against representatives of the Georgian authorities.

The European Parliament also calls on EU member to refrain from holding meetings with the ruling Georgian Dream party. The document further discusses sanctions against television broadcasters, including Imedi TV.

In addition, according to the resolution, the European Parliament calls on the Commission to establish a mechanism that would allow civil society activists, journalists and students to retain visa-free access to the European Union.