Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze criticized the possible suspension of Georgia’s visa-free travel with the EU, calling it an unfair and regrettable move.

He accused some EU member states of using visa liberalisation as political leverage, likening it to past instances of what he described as “blackmail”—including the delay in granting Georgia EU candidate status and the opening of accession talks.

“They’re now using visa liberalisation as another pressure point against the government,” Kaladze said, adding that focus should remain on Georgia’s security, peace, and economic progress.