Kobakhidze: EU’s move to cancel visa-free travel for diplomatic passports ‘symbolic gesture’

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has downplayed the EU’s decision to initiate procedures for canceling visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders, calling it a “symbolic gesture” and a “minor inconvenience.”

Speaking at a briefing on Monday, Kobakhidze clarified that the measure would not prevent entry to European countries but would require visa applications in advance. “This means that before you go to a European country, you must apply for a visa. They will stamp it, and you will go. It’s a small inconvenience, but not much,” he remarked.

The EU foreign ministers discussed developments in Georgia during a meeting on December 16, resulting in the decision to target visa-free access for diplomatic and service passport holders while refraining from imposing sanctions on senior officials of the ruling Georgian Dream party at this stage.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy noted that discussions included the possibility of sanctioning officials “behind violence against peaceful demonstrators” but agreed to monitor further developments before taking additional measures. “We had a very heated discussion… many said, let’s see how things develop,” Kaja Kallas said.

The visa-free regime for Georgian diplomatic passports, in effect since 2011, has applied to high-ranking officials, parliamentarians, senior bureaucrats, and certain church representatives, including the Catholicos-Patriarch. It remains unclear whether any exceptions will be made.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó referenced Hungary’s prior success in excluding Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church from EU sanctions, reiterating Budapest’s stance against sanctioning religious leaders.

The EU’s General Affairs Council is set to further discuss Georgia and the enlargement report in Brussels on December 17.