EU visa suspension for diplomatic passports will have no practical impact, Georgia’s ruling party

Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has said the European Union’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports will have no practical impact on senior officials.

Irakli Kirtskhalia, leader of the parliamentary majority, on Thursday claimed the move was described as largely symbolic and politically motivated.

 He said restrictions on diplomatic passports would not create obstacles for the country’s top officials or other representatives of the ruling party.

Kirtskhalia further argued that senior figures had repeatedly stated that if faced with a choice between safeguarding national interests and waiting in visa queues, the latter would not be an issue. He added that diplomatic passport holders also possess ordinary passports, which still allow visa-free travel to the EU.

The statement framed the decision as the culmination of what it called two years of pressure from Brussels, including changes to the EU’s decision-making mechanisms. 

The MP also pointed out that on 27 January last year the EU adopted a similar measure under a different legal basis, allowing member states to impose restrictions individually on holders of diplomatic and service passports. Thirteen countries subsequently introduced such measures.

Under the latest decision, the suspension will apply uniformly across all EU member states.