Georgian Parliament official condemns ongoing pressure over EU visa liberalisation

Irakli Zarkua, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Diaspora and Caucasus Issues, on Wednesday denounced what he called continued “blackmail” against Georgia, its people, and its state regarding the potential suspension of visa liberalisation with the European Union.

In his remarks, Zarkua noted that there was no connection between visa liberalisation and the recently adopted law on family values.

“We have a question: what connection is there between visa liberalization and the family values law? The blackmail against Georgia, the Georgian people, and our state is continuing, and this is nothing new”, the Parliament official said.

He recalled the challenges Georgia faced in securing EU candidate status, noting that despite the country meeting all requirements and being favorably evaluated by EU commissions and international organisations, the process was delayed by a year. Zarkua said that threats over visa liberalization had persisted ever since.

“Now they have come up with something new. Their own experts and commissions recognize that Georgia is a leader among candidate countries - not only in governance and budget transparency but also in public trust in state institutions. We surpass 12 NATO states and 9 to 11 EU countries in these metrics. Yet the double standard is obvious, and it continues”, he continued.

He also criticised recent claims that Georgia’s visa liberalisation could be suspended if the family values law is not repealed.

“First, prove the connection between the two, and then we can discuss it. Where is the link between visa liberalisation and family values? What is the list? That LGBT couples cannot adopt, that same-sex marriage is prohibited - these are the issues?” the official continued.

He cited Greece as an example, arguing that international pressure had forced changes in family law despite the country’s long history and traditions.

Zarkua emphasised that Georgia has only sought to prevent LGBT propaganda in kindergartens and schools, questioning why the EU sees this as conflicting with visa liberalization. He also criticised calls to repeal Georgia’s transparency law, asking why such standards are not applied equally across EU countries or the United States.

“If these laws are accepted in their countries, why are they unacceptable in ours? The transparency law simply clarifies how funds are spent and who finances them. Nothing more. Yet this has become an issue for Georgia”, Zarkua concluded.