European Commission warns Georgia of risk of losing visa-free travel

The European Commission expects the Georgian authorities to take steps to implement the EU recommendations in order to avoid suspension of the visa-free travel. Brussels continues to analyze the actions of the Georgian government, as well as the response sent on August 31 to the letter from the European Commission received on July 14.

EC representative Markus Lammert said that the assessment of Tbilisi's response and measures will be taken into account in the upcoming report on visa liberalization. According to him, in case of prolonged non-compliance with the recommendations, the mechanism of freezing the visa-free travel may be used.

Lammert also recalled that last week the Georgian authorities froze the accounts of non-governmental organizations. The EU assessed this step as another restriction of democratic freedoms and the use of the judicial system for pressure.

"The EU calls on the Georgian authorities to immediately reverse this decision," the European Commission representative emphasized.

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