The European Commission has warned Georgia of the possibility of completely suspending visa-free travel.

The European Commission has admitted that Georgia could face a complete suspension of its visa-free regime with the European Union. Due to the "systemic and targeted nature of the country's democratic backsliding," Brussels is prepared to implement a new mechanism against it, which comes into force on December 30, 2025.

As reported by Kavkazsky Uzel, in mid-June, the European Commission demanded that the Georgian authorities respect human rights and repeal repressive laws, citing these demands as conditions for maintaining the visa-free regime. Georgian authorities have stated that they will prefer visa-free travel to maintaining stability.

The European Commission stated that Georgia has significantly deviated from the commitments it made when obtaining visa-free travel with the EU: Tbilisi has failed to implement almost a single recommendation from Brussels and has committed a "sharp backsliding" in the areas of human rights and governance in 2024-2025. This follows from the eighth report on the implementation of visa-free travel requirements by partner countries, which was published today on the European Commission's website, according to Newsgeorgia.

The most significant complaints concern the "foreign influence transparency" law and the "family values" package, which, according to the EU, violate freedom of expression, assembly, association, and the right to privacy. Brussels demands the abolition of these documents and guarantees for the protection of all citizens.

The Commission also notes pressure on civil society, restrictions on the media and protesters, and the lack of progress in the fight against corruption and visa policy convergence with the EU.

"While most EU neighbouring countries have taken steps to implement previous recommendations, serious challenges remain. The most serious situation is in Georgia, which has violated numerous commitments made during the visa liberalisation dialogue. It has implemented almost none of the recommendations of the 7th report and has allowed further backsliding in 2024-2025, including a deterioration in the human rights situation," the document states.

Brussels is now considering the possibility of implementing measures under a new visa-free travel suspension mechanism. The new rules allow for a gradual restriction. The first stage will apply to holders of diplomatic and service passports – those who, according to the report, "are responsible for failing to take action to implement the recommendations." In the second stage, the visa-free travel ban could also be extended to ordinary Georgian citizens, the publication writes.

Giorgi Butikashvili, a member of the "Coalition for Change," stated that the European Commission's conclusion will form the basis for new regulations regarding Georgia. According to him, Georgia is already lagging behind the European Union's recommendations in many ways, which it should have implemented, and the situation has worsened, Pirveli TV reports.

"Georgia is already lagging behind the recommendations it should have implemented in many ways, and the situation has worsened, which will serve as the basis for developing a new EU visa-free travel regulation, which will obviously affect representatives of the 'Georgian Dream' and the repressive machine, rather than the Georgian people and Georgia as a whole. This process will begin next year," the politician stated.

According to activist, actor, and director Kakhi Gogidze, Georgia is changing course like a tropical storm. The whole problem is that people are silent. This is the biggest problem – silence.

"There is only one solution: until the West imposes sanctions so severe that they can't fly to France, nothing will help us. The protests are of enormous and decisive importance. They are like a beacon shining in a snowstorm. The fact that a visa-free regime still exists today is thanks to these protesters. I don't see any other solution. They are also ready to restore relations with Russia and deploy troops; they want to enter into a deeper and more comprehensive relationship with Russia," Kakha Gogidze said on the program "Reaction."

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili responded to the statements by European parliamentarians, stating that "if such assessments had been made 5-7 years ago, it would have caused a huge scandal and a lot of speeches. Now it has become so insignificant that I just smiled at all of this. We have prepared society because we are right," his words are quoted in a publication on the website TV channel.

"The European bureaucracy is sending signals that Georgia is rolling back democracy and violating human rights. This double standard, this unfair behavior on their part, these offensive signals are troubling not only the government but all of Georgia. Everyone has seen a clear picture of how these people operate. Now we know that Ukraine's accession to NATO was never planned," Kavelashvili told reporters.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that one of the leaders of the opposition "Coalition for Change," Zurab Japaridze, was released after serving seven months in Rustavi Prison for failing to appear for a parliamentary commission meeting. This evening, he plans to join protesters outside the Georgian Parliament.