Georgia’s ruling party official says Georgian people cannot be blackmailed over EU visa-free travel

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Thursday reiterated that there were no grounds for suspending visa-free travel with the European Union.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kirtskhalia noted that the opposition would not be able to blackmail the Georgian people with this issue.

“We have commented many times on the issue of visa-free travel suspension, and I will repeat once again that there are absolutely no grounds for it - neither legal nor political. Before Georgia obtained visa liberalisation, we remember how they [the domestic opposition] were running through the corridors [in Brussels] trying to prevent it from being granted to our country. Now they are running to have it revoked”, the Chair said.

“It is deeply insulting when a member of the [opposition] United National Movement party claims they care about the public and says visa-free travel should be suspended for the ruling party but not for the people”, he continued.

The official recalled that similar rhetoric was used by the opposition and their “patrons” ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections and during local elections as well.

“The public gave them a dignified response. They will have to accept that the Georgian people cannot be blackmailed - it’s out of the question”, Kirtskhalia concluded.