**Georgian President Denounces “Blackmail” Narrative on Visa-Free Travel**
In a press briefing on April 23, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili denounced recent statements by officials from the ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), which claimed that the country’s sovereignty is being threatened by the possibility of suspending visa-free travel to the European Union.
The GD officials have been pushing the narrative that Brussels is “blackmailing” Georgia with the threat of revoking its visa-free status, claiming that Georgians face a false dilemma between enjoying visa-free travel and maintaining their country’s sovereignty. However, President Zurabishvili rejected this claim, saying it was a “direct continuation” of developments that began on November 28, 2024, when Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the halt of EU integration efforts until 2028.
Zurabishvili argued that the goal behind this rhetoric is to advance GD’s agenda of isolating Georgia from Europe by fueling fears around the visa-free regime. She accused the ruling party of mimicking Russian-style policymaking, trying to prepare the public for international isolation and shift the blame onto Europe.
**The Rhetoric: A Form of Propaganda?**
GD officials have been making claims in recent days that EU is trying to “blackmail” Georgia with the visa-free regime. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, GD Deputy Speaker Nino Tsilosani, and MP Sozar Subari all echoed this narrative. On April 23, two other GD MPs, Guram Macharashvili and Archil Gorduladze, continued to address the issue, lamenting that EU is using visa liberalization as a means of manipulation.
However, President Zurabishvili disputed this claim, saying that the narrative was a form of propaganda aimed at demoralizing society. She urged Georgians not to fall into the trap of such propaganda and called on the public to assess who is truly pushing the country away from Europe.
**The Context: EU’s Concerns Over Democratic Backsliding**
It’s worth noting that the European Union has warned that suspension of the visa-free regime remains an option amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding and repression under the Georgian Dream government. In September 2024, before the violent suppression of protests and the government’s sharp U-turn on EU integration, the European Commission stated that “all options are on the table” should GD continue on an authoritarian path – including the potential temporary suspension of the visa liberalization scheme.
The Union is also planning to modify its visa suspension mechanism later this year, making the possibility of suspension seem more real. The proposed reforms aim to make it easier for Brussels to revoke visa-free travel for citizens of any of the 61 countries currently benefiting from the regime, including Georgia.
In conclusion, President Zurabishvili’s comments highlight a deepening divide between the GD government and the European Union over issues of democratic backsliding and repression. As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how this will impact Georgia’s relationship with Europe and its citizens’ access to visa-free travel.
