**Georgian Politician Hits Back at Opposition’s Visa-Free Travel Demands**
In a statement to journalists, Davit Matikashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, has responded to concerns that the suspension of visa-free travel and sanctions on judges might be discussed at the European Council’s meeting of EU foreign ministers on July 15.
According to Matikashvili, the opposition is not just seeking to suspend visa-free travel, but also desires a “big bomb” to hit the country and wipe out everything. He believes that representatives of the radical opposition will achieve neither their desired outcome nor harm to the country.
**Radical Opposition’s True Intentions**
Matikashvili stated that visa-free travel is an achievement of the Georgian people, protected by international agreements. He emphasized that if the European Union disregards these agreements and makes a political decision to punish the Georgian people, it would be unjust.
Regarding sanctions on judges, Matikashvili said that a special operation against them could not be carried out. He pointed out that there have been previous attempts to exert pressure on judges, citing a specific case where a judge was summoned by the U.S. Embassy and asked to report on a case that had been later vindicated in the Strasbourg Court.
**Previous Attempts at Vetting**
Matikashvili noted that an attempt to impose vetting on Georgian judges had also failed. He emphasized that this would be unacceptable for any decent democratic country. The deputy concluded by saying that it is essential for everyone to respect the sovereignty of countries and put an end to baseless actions aimed at futile results.
**What’s Next?**
The European Council’s meeting of EU foreign ministers on July 15 will likely determine whether these concerns become a reality. Will the Georgian government be able to prevent sanctions on judges, or will visa-free travel be suspended? Only time will tell.
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