Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili stated that the European Commission suspended visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports long ago, and that its latest report merely reinforces concerns that the issue is being used to exert pressure on Georgia.

Commenting on the European Commission’s report assessing partner countries’ compliance with visa liberalisation requirements, Botchorishvili said the Commission itself has failed to follow through on its own decisions. According to her, visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders was suspended some time ago, and several EU member states have already implemented this decision. However, she noted that the suspension of the agreement for diplomatic passports remains unclear and lacks a solid legal basis.

“In this context, the continued threats only strengthen the view that certain forces are deliberately using visa-free travel with Georgia as a means of blackmail against our country and its people,” the Foreign Minister concluded.