EU Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Officials

The European Commission suspends visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports, effective immediately until March 6, 2027, with possible extension to 2028 if governance issues persist. This targets officials amid concerns over democratic backsliding, violent crackdowns on protesters, opposition politicians, and independent media following the Georgian Dream party's halt to EU membership talks and a disputed election.