EU moves towards suspending visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats

17/12/2024 6:25

European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday that the bloc should suspend visa-free travel for Georgian officials holding diplomatic passports following a crackdown in Georgia on pro-EU protests.



"The situation is not going to a positive direction for the Georgian people," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters following a meeting of the ministers on Monday.



"Today we agreed the need to halt the visa-free regime for diplomatic passport holders," she added.



The ministers asked the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, to make a proposal on the issue. Diplomats said they expected that proposal would then be adopted by EU governments in a majority vote.



One diplomat said the measure was intended to affect leading Georgian politicians without imposing a punishment on ordinary citizens.