Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stated before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting that several actions have been taken on the EU side, including changes to the visa regime for government officials and civil servants. These individuals will no longer be able to travel to the EU visa-free with their diplomatic service passports, she said.

She emphasized that this is a deliberate move.

“ The EU side has done certain actions, which is essentially changing the visa regime with the government officials, the public officials. They won’t be able to travel with their diplomatic service passports visa-free to the EU, so that is a very targeted action. The EU has said that EU support is not going to go to any government-related activities or agencies.

Unfortunately, they are not respecting the will of people currently, what we are seeing in terms of the European future, in terms of the demonstrations on the streets of Tbilisi. Latvia has put a number of officials, those who have suppressed these peaceful processes, attacked journalists on so-called non-entrance lists and so have done other European countries.  But, there is also clearly the door open for the European future if the people’s will is respected,” said the Latvian Foreign Minister.