**NGOs Blame Ivanishvili Government for Threat to Visa-Free Travel**
The Georgian government, led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, is fully responsible for putting the country’s visa-free travel regime at risk, a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) claimed. The statement, signed by around 40 NGOs, called on the founder and honorary chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party to stop sabotaging the European choice of the majority of the Georgian people.
The EU had sent an official letter to the Ivanishvili government expressing concerns about the current situation in Georgia, citing democratic regression, violations of legal standards, and a disregard for European values. The NGOs responded to these concerns by emphasizing that visa-free travel was not achieved through the efforts of the government alone, but rather through the collective efforts of society.
**Georgian Citizens’ Struggle for Democracy**
The statement highlighted that Georgian citizens gained the right to visa-free travel due to decades of hard work and democratic reforms. However, in recent years, the Ivanishvili government’s actions have undermined the country’s democratic future by persecuting critical media, civil society, and political opponents.
**Warning from the European Union**
The NGOs believe that the EU’s warning about the potential suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens is a last chance for the government to change its course. The statement emphasized that such a move would be a direct result of the Ivanishvili government’s actions, which have single-handedly destroyed progress achieved through the efforts of society.
**NGOs Remain Committed to European Integration**
The NGOs reaffirmed their commitment to Georgia’s European integration and continued to fight for values that connect the country to Europe – freedom, dignity, and the rule of law. They called on Ivanishvili to stop sabotaging the European choice of the majority of the Georgian people and the Constitution of Georgia.
**Signed by 40 NGOs**
The statement was signed by a diverse group of 40 NGOs, including Association “Social Umbrella”, Eastern European Center for Multi-Party Democracy (EECMD), Youth for the Development of Samegrelo, International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management, and many others.
