Ruling party may seek to blame EU for potential loss of visa-free travel, expert

Political analyst Kakha Gogolashvili has suggested that Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party could seek to use any potential suspension of the country's visa-free travel regime with the European Union to shift public opinion against the bloc.

Speaking on Friday, Gogolashvili argued that a loss of visa-free travel would affect many Georgians and claimed the ruling party could portray such a move as evidence that the EU does not support Georgia or take into account the difficulties faced by its citizens.

He said the European Union was engaged in what he described as a political struggle aimed at encouraging Georgia's authorities to return to a democratic course, while accusing Georgian Dream of distancing the country from the EU.

Gogolashvili also alleged that the ruling party was attempting to place responsibility for tensions in relations with Brussels on the European Union itself.

Drawing a comparison with the rhetoric of Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine, Gogolashvili claimed Georgian Dream frequently rejects criticism and seeks to shift blame onto others.