Sole responsibility for the threat to visa-free travel lies with Ivanishvili’s government

According to information disseminated on July 15, the European Union sent an official letter to Ivanishvili’s government regarding the possibility of reviewing the conditions of the visa-free regime. The letter reflects the serious concern of the EU over the current situation in Georgia – democratic backsliding, violation of legal standards, and disregard for European values.

We, the organizations signing the statement, respond to the fair questions raised by the European Union and emphasize that:

• Georgian citizens gained the right to visa-free travel not through the efforts of the government, but through the efforts of the entire society – this was a historic decision based on the implementation of democratic reforms, respect for the rule of law, and the protection of human rights;
• It is clear to everyone that the actions of the Ivanishvili government in recent years have significantly exceeded the framework of the implementation of reforms agreed with the European Union. The persecution of critical media, civil society, and political opponents is a significant threat to the country’s democratic future and European path;
• If visa-free travel for Georgian citizens has been suspended, the full responsibility for this lies with the Ivanishvili government, which has single-handedly destroyed the progress achieved through decades of hard work and which, against the will of the Georgian people, is deliberately damaging the country’s Western future.

We believe that such a warning from the EU is a signal to both the Ivanishvili government and society as a whole: it is clear to us that the European family will not tolerate ignoring democratic values. This is the last warning to change the destructive course that is detaching us from Europe.

We emphasize that Georgian non-governmental organizations, like the absolute majority of our society, remain unwavering supporters of Georgia’s European integration. We continue to fight for the values that connect us to Europe, not only in documents, but also in essence — on the basis of freedom, dignity, and the rule of law.

We call on Ivanishvili to stop sabotaging the European choice of the absolute majority of the Georgian population and the Georgian Constitution.