Visa-free travel with the European Union, which is one of the most important guarantees of free movement for Georgian citizens across European countries, is now under serious threat.
The government has failed to implement the EU recommendations of 2024, which required the protection of fundamental human rights, the repeal of restrictive and repressive laws, and a systemic fight against corruption at all levels. Moreover,Georgia’s European integration has been damaged even more in 2025. After the fraudulent elections of 2024, Georgia now has 65 prisoners of conscience, additional repressive laws have been adopted, and the persecution of people continues to this day.
As the public is aware, by 31 August 2025 the government must provide the EU with information on the situation in Georgia. Instead of taking concrete steps to address the dire situation and resolve the political crisis in the country, the government is intensifying its anti-Western propaganda.
Because of these actions, there is a real risk that Georgian citizens may lose the opportunities that visa-free travel with the EU has given us: meeting with family members, traveling freely, receiving medical treatment, studying, working, and developing in the European space.
Georgia is a member of the European family. Like more than 80% of the Georgian population, we believe that Georgia’s future lies in the European Union. But the course chosen by the government is destroying this future.
As the EU Ambassador has stated, in order to return to the European path it is essential to:
We, Georgian civil society organizations, hold the government fully responsible for any negative decision regarding visa-free travel, and we firmly believe that surrendering our European future is unacceptable. It is imperative that we defend visa-free travel – and protect Georgia’s European path.
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