Georgia’s fifth President reacts to EU decision on visa-free travel suspension for diplomatic passport holders

Georgia’s fifth President Salome Zourabichvili has reacted to the European Union’s Monday’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports from Georgia, a move linked to the adoption of controversial laws in the country last year.

The EU Council stated that the decision was a direct response to the passing of a Russian-style “foreign agents” law and a homophobic law by Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream.

In a statement, Zourabichvili expressed confusion over the EU’s decision, calling it disproportionate. “The EU decision to suspend the visa-free regime for holders of diplomatic passports in response to the foreign agents law is somewhat incomprehensible,” she wrote. “Since then, Georgia has experienced worse: stolen elections, blocking the European path, mass protests, violent repression. Forget the old laws, demand new elections.”