The Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Botchorishvili, has stated that activating a visa-free travel suspension mechanism specifically for diplomatic passport holders is unprecedented and “unthinkable” in international relations.

According to the Minister, the criteria for extending the visa suspension mechanism to other categories of citizens remain entirely unclear.

Maka Botchorishvili noted that such a move is highly unlikely. At the same time, she explained that the Georgian side has already held an initial meeting with the European Commission, and engagement on this issue will continue.

“The suspension of visa-free travel has already been implemented on a selective basis. They have activated this mechanism in a highly unusual manner against holders of diplomatic passports, which is generally unthinkable in international relations. Diplomats, first and foremost, the people who hold diplomatic passports, traditionally enjoy certain privileges precisely because the resolution of even the most complex relations rests in their hands. It is unprecedented for such a decision to be made, targeting the visa-free suspension mechanism specifically at diplomatic passport holders.

As a result, we do not know how they might further categorise people, or what criteria could trigger the visa suspension mechanism for other groups, even if this remains highly unlikely. As you know, we have already held an initial meeting with the European Commission. We had the opportunity to discuss the suspension mechanism and, more broadly, the issues linked to the suspension of the visa-free regime for diplomatic passport holders in this instance, and we will continue our work on this matter,” Maka Botchorishvili stated.