Parliament official confident Georgia’s visa-free travel not under threat

The European Commission has sent a letter to Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, outlining eight key recommendations the country must fulfill to safeguard its visa-free travel status with the EU. Among the most critical demands are the repeal of the law on transparency of foreign influence and the legislative package on protection of family values and minors. The letter also calls for amendments to Georgia's National Human Rights Strategy and Action Plan to ensure the full protection of LGBTQ+ individuals' rights.

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament, acknowledged the EU's demands, stating that “the public needs to know what is at stake”. However, Makhashvili expressed confidence that Georgia's visa-free travel was not under threat.

“My colleagues and I are deeply convinced that there is no threat to the suspension of visa-free travel. Our belief is based on the recommendations we have always had with the European Commission, and we will continue this way”, the official said.

Despite this assurance, Makhashvili highlighted “red lines” for the Georgian Government, particularly regarding family values and conservative political ideologies that formed the basis of the ruling party's election victory.

“It will be no surprise if we say that there are several red lines, including on family values, including on issues based on the conservative political ideology and approaches that our government has and on the basis of whose election promise we won the parliamentary elections”, he concluded.