Lithuania is the next Baltic country to impose visa requirements for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders.
The government of Lithuania has adopted a resolution to implement the EU Council’s January decision to suspend the visa-free policy for Georgian diplomats and officials, Schengen.News reports.
It means that officials and their family members will no longer be eligible to travel to Lithuania for short-term stays without visas. They are also no longer allowed to benefit from simplified and cheap procedures for applying for long-term visas.
According to local media reports, the Lithuanian government approved the decision and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to inform the European Commission and all other members of the Community regarding the new changes within five working days.
EU Suspends Visa Facilitation Agreement With Georgia
The Council of the European Union decided to partially suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Georgia on January 27, 2025, for official and diplomatic passport holders.
The decision comes following a proposal from the European 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.
The new changes mean that Georgian diplomats and officials are required to pay the full Schengen Visa fee and potentially submit additional supporting documents.
Estonia Has Already Imposed Visa Requirements for Diplomats & Officials From Georgia
Recently, a similar decision was introduced by authorities in Estonia, obliging Georgian diplomats and officials to apply for a visa before heading to Estonia.
The introduction of a visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and service passports is another step to show that the international community, including the EU, 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).
EU’s Decision Criticised by Georgia
Authorities in Georgia criticized the decision of the Council for the partial visa-free suspension. Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botochorishvili considered the decision groundless and nonsense, saying it was politically wrong.
Botochorishvili said that there is no proof that the Georgian diplomats posed a risk to the European Union countries.
The minister also argued that the new changes were against European values.