Ruling Party MP Slams ‘Treasonous Calls by NGOs’ for ‘Cancellation’ of Georgia-EU Visa Waiver

Giorgi Kakhiani, a lawmaker from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday criticized unspecified domestic non-governmental organizations for their “treacherous calls” for the European Union to cancel visa-free travel to Georgia ahead of the October 26 general election as a measure against the government.

His comments followed a recent report The McCain Institute, a Washington-based think tank, suggested that “the EU could consider a pause on visa-free travel for Georgians.” The report noted that several Georgian NGOs had argued that such a move “would demonstrate in real terms to voters the consequences of the Georgian Dream government’s actions.”

The lawmaker said the cancellation of visa-free travel – implemented in March 2017, allowing Georgian nationals with biometric passports to travel visa-free to 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period – was “highly unlikely”.

“I don’t understand how one can have a more treacherous attitude towards one’s country. Should the mere fact that someone’s political ambitions are at stake mean that our country should restrict visa liberalization? This is not realistic. I am sure that this will not happen. There is no serious discussion about this. This is being fabricated in different offices,” Kakhiani said.

The McCain Institute report, authored by Laura Thornton, senior director of global democracy programs and former mission chief of the National Democratic Institute in Georgia, was released September 17.

The assessment, conducted ahead of the upcoming elections, builds on a Friends of Georgia mission to Tbilisi from 2 to 8 September, the report said. The mission aimed to assess the electoral landscape and the risks to the conduct and integrity of the upcoming elections.