Ruling party MP accuses Brussels of ‘manipulating’ Georgia’s EU visa-free status ahead of local elections

Levan Makhashvili, chair of parliament’s European Integration Committee, has accused European institutions of attempting to influence the country’s municipal elections by raising doubts over its EU visa-free travel arrangement.

In his comments on Wednesday, the ruling Georgian Dream ruling party lawmaker said there would be “multiple attempts” to pressure Georgian voters and sway public opinion, but stressed the importance of citizens “showing strong support” for the government.

He said Georgia had earned visa liberalisation through “completing a series of reforms” and by “strictly safeguarding EU security”. Questioning the arrangement over recently adopted laws - such as the family values law and the foreign transparency law - was, he argued, “completely baseless and unfair” and amounted to presenting voters with a false dilemma.

Makhashvili claimed Brussels would use “any lever or resource” to influence the public, but said a “clear electoral choice in favour of the government” would send “a strong signal to all those seeking to pressure Georgia or its leadership”.