Mon Sep 23 21:18:12 UTC 2024: ## EU’s Threat to End Visa-Free Travel for Georgians Called “Extortion” Ahead of Elections

Tbilisi, Georgia – The Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze, has denounced the European Union’s threat to end visa-free travel for Georgians as “extortion” aimed at influencing the upcoming parliamentary elections. The EU, citing concerns about “democratic decline” in Georgia, announced last week that it might “temporarily suspend” the 2017 visa-free travel agreement.

Kaladze, echoing previous statements by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, labeled the EU’s threat “cheap blackmail” and suggested that the timing of the announcement, close to the October 26th elections, is no coincidence. The ruling Georgian Dream party, currently polling far ahead of the opposition, is facing criticism from both the US and the EU over recent legislative changes.

The US sanctioned several Georgian Dream leaders in July, accusing them of passing “Russian-style” laws that undermine democracy. The Georgian parliament subsequently passed a ban on “LGBT and gender reassignment propaganda,” which the EU condemned as contrary to Georgia’s aspirations for EU membership.

The EU has also voiced concern over Georgia’s adoption of a watered-down version of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which targets foreign-funded NGOs. Kaladze dismissed these concerns, calling the NGOs “pests” who “make political statements” and “harm the country and our European integrations.” He went on to claim that these organizations are actually political entities operating under the guise of nonprofits.

Despite the strong rhetoric, Kaladze downplayed the likelihood of the EU actually ending visa-free travel for Georgians, describing it as a “complex bureaucratic procedure” that cannot be implemented on a whim.

The upcoming elections in Georgia are shaping up to be a significant test of the country’s democratic credentials, with both the US and the EU closely watching the developments. The EU’s threat to end visa-free travel, while seemingly a tactic to influence the election, could have lasting implications for Georgia’s relationship with the bloc.

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