Juknevičienė: no one wants to punish Georgian people, but visa-free travel has very specific criteria

Member of the European Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė has said that no one in the European Parliament seeks to punish the Georgian people, but reminded that visa-free travel with the EU is bound by clear and specific criteria that must be met.

“We must recognise and understand that at this moment, Georgia is the Kremlin’s biggest victory. The country has been captured from within and this did not start yesterday, it began in 2012, when the Kremlin also wanted to take over Ukraine, Moldova and other countries from within. They did not succeed there, but unfortunately, they believe they have succeeded in Georgia,” she said.

The MEP, who serves as the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Georgia, added that lawmakers from various political groups had consistently tried to reflect the current situation in Georgia in their reports and resolutions and to outline ways to help the Georgian people.

“No one in the European Parliament wants to punish the Georgian people, no one. But visa-free travel falls within a very specific framework and comes with very concrete criteria,” Juknevičienė added.