The EU is preparing an ultimatum to Georgia: Europe will close its doors to Tbilisi
15 July 13:13
The European Union may suspend the visa-free regime with Georgia in response to excessively harsh measures taken by local authorities against protesters. This statement was made by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing Ukrinform.
What the EU is preparing
According to the European official, both sanctions restrictions and the suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the EU are considered among the instruments of influence on Tbilisi.
European diplomats plan to send an official appeal to the Georgian leadership in the near future with a list of requirements that the country must fulfill. If these conditions are ignored within the set timeframe, Brussels will be forced to activate the mechanism for suspending the visa-free regime.
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At the same time, European institutions are preparing a sanctions list that will include at least two Georgian judges. This step is related to the imposition of inadequately harsh sentences on young Georgian protesters.
Events in Georgia
The political crisis in Georgia is deepening against the backdrop of large-scale repressions against the opposition. The country’s parliament has recently deprived twelve representatives of the opposition force “For Georgia” of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia of their parliamentary seats.
Over the past month, security forces have arrested six leaders of opposition parties, effectively leaving the democratic forces without leadership. Eight opposition groups have announced a boycott of the October municipal elections.
Gakharia himself was forced to leave the country after a night attack in Batumi’s Sheraton Hotel earlier this year, during which he suffered a concussion and a broken nose, and is currently abroad.
As reported by , former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili remains in prison: he recently received a new sentence and said that his new prison term was a message to Zelensky.
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