Georgian Parliament official: why LGBT propaganda linked to visa liberalisation? Most Georgians reject this framing

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind linking LGBT issues to Georgia’s visa liberalisation with the European Union.

In his remarks with Imedi TV, Kadagishvili addressed the European Commission’s letter to Georgia’s Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, which outlined eight recommendations Georgia must fulfil to retain visa-free travel with the EU.

“I fail to see why LGBT propaganda is linked to visa liberalisation. Which fundamental right - defined by the UN or European fundamental rights - requires me to live under LGBT propaganda? Where is this written? This is a certain political and ideological demand. I do not agree with this ideological demand, and the absolute majority of Georgia’s population, including the vast majority of opposition supporters, does not agree with framing the issue this way. This is an issue on which we have a clear position”, Kadagishvili said.

The official also criticised EU suggestions that Georgia should align its visa policy with that of the EU, which, according to him, would effectively isolate Georgia by severing visa-free travel with countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and China.

“Another issue is aligning Georgia’s visa policy with the EU’s visa policy. It seems they are telling us that we should not have visa-free travel with countries that do not have visa-free travel with Europe - meaning Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and China should not have visa-free travel with us. Are they telling us to lock down the country? That Georgia should not have free movement with anyone? What kind of issue is this? Especially since Georgia is not an EU member, a person entering Georgia cannot automatically enter Europe because they need a Schengen visa. Georgia does not issue such visas. Georgia does not share a land border with any Schengen country, so no one can cross into Europe through our land borders, whether through corruption or any other means. The only way is by air, which is fully controlled, and no one has used or will use this route in the future”, he noted.

“But what does raising such an issue mean - that our country’s freedom of movement should be restricted? What kind of attitude is this toward the country and its people? It’s unimaginable to me. And what external migration flow has come from Georgia toward Europe? Such a thing does not exist in reality”, Kadagishvili continued.

He concluded by saying Georgia remained open to discussing objective concerns, but it would not accept ultimatums or ideological impositions.

“That’s why we say that when it comes to objectivity, we are ready to discuss objective issues in an objective framework. But when it’s about setting ultimatums and refusing to look beyond them, we’ve seen that such ultimatums no longer work in Europe. Two days ago, at the European Foreign Ministers’ meeting, they couldn’t reach any agreement regarding Georgia”, Kadagishvili concluded.

The European Commission has sent a letter to Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, outlining eight recommendations the country must fulfil to avoid jeopardizing its visa-free travel with the EU.

One of the main recommendations is the repeal of the laws on transparency of foreign influence and on the protection of family values and minors.