The government of Estonia has decided to exclude Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders from its visa-free policy, obliging them to apply for a visa before heading to this country.
The new changes come in response to repression by the ruling party in Georgia, the Georgian Dream, Schengen.News reports.
The decision that takes effect from today, May 8, 2025, has been confirmed through a statement by the Estonian government.
The introduction of visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport holders of Georgia was adopted previously by the European Union, and now each state must implement it in its own legislation.
The introduction of a visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports is another step to show that the international community, including the European Union, does not accept the repression of ordinary people, protesters and journalists, the impunity of the police and the silencing of civil society by Georgia’s ruling party, the Georgian Dream (GD).
The Minister Tsahkna said that the restriction of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens with biometric passports is also being discussed by the European Union.
EU Partially Suspended Visa Facilitation Agreement With Georgia in January
On January 27, 2025, the Council of the European Union decided to partially suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Georgia for diplomats and official passport holders.
The decision, confirmed through a statement by the Council, came following a proposal from the Commission.
The Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for a visa when travelling to the EU.
It means that Georgian diplomats and officials are no longer subject to facilitated rules. They are required to pay the full Schengen visa fee and potentially submit additional supporting documents.
Partial Suspension of Visa-Free Travel Agreement for Georgia “Groundless”
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botochorishvili described the Council’s decision to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and official passport holders as groundless and nonsenseconsidering it politically wrong.
Botochorishvili said that there is no proof that Georgian diplomats are posing a risk to public order in the EU countries.
The Minister argued that the decision violates European values.
Up to this point, several countries, including Germany, Poland, France and Norway ended visa-free travel for diplomats and officials from Georgiawhile Hungary said that it won’t take a similar decision, with the Foreign Minister of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, adding that the future of Georgia should be decided in Georgia not in Brussels.