“Some European Union member states adopted several unjust steps and conditions. I do not expect that the letter mentioned by Kaja Kallas will be based on any solid evidence,” declared MP Levan Makhashvili, Chairman of Parliament’s European Integration Committee.

According to him, Georgia’s government is ready for dialogue, but the conversation should not be conducted with arm-twisting—it should be based on concrete arguments about where the problems lie and what the government can do.

“Visa-free travel faces no threat whatsoever. There are always states that try to use this issue as a political weapon and blackmail, but this matter faces no real danger. The government will do everything to ensure no questions arise on this topic.

As for the letter that Kaja Kallas mentioned, there’s nothing new here either—presumably, it refers to the conclusion published by the European Commission in December, which concerned the visa liberalisation compliance report. Back then, several issues were noted that Georgia needed to address. These were—the repeal of transparency and anti-LGBT propaganda laws, as well as issues related to the anti-corruption bureau. The letter will presumably focus attention on these issues. The letter will arrive, we’ll see, study it, and make the appropriate decision,” Levan Makhashvili declared.

According to him, the foundation for visa liberalisation compliance remains solid.

“The foundation for visa liberalisation compliance is solid, the fundamental base that is essential for protecting this issue—and we’re talking about security protection—is solid. We’re ready for dialogue, but the conversation should not be conducted with arm-twisting. We should engage in a discussion supported by concrete arguments to identify where the issues lie and determine what actions the government can take. We’ll do everything to ensure this issue faces no real threat.

There will always be states that use this issue as a political weapon. Our main goal is to ensure the issue faces no threat. Let the letter arrive and we’ll see what it reads. We’ll consider the letter very carefully. Some European Union member states adopted several unjust steps and conditions. Therefore, I do not expect that the letter mentioned by Kaja Kallas will be based on any solid evidence,” Levan Makhashvili declared.

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that “we see serious backsliding in Georgia,” and “it is up to the member states to decide what they want to do with this. The options are sanctions and the suspension of the visa-free travel regime and all the elements of it.” Kaja Kallas also said the Council would send a letter to Georgia, so that “they have certain conditions to comply with, and if these conditions are not met, we will have to suspend the visa-free regime.”