This is a mechanism for blackmail, designed to create a radical agenda in Georgia; it has no other purpose. Foreign Minister of Georgia said this on the GPB First Channel’s programme “Topic of the Day.”

“Why should Georgian citizens be punished? Why should Georgians’ visa-free travel be cancelled? If the European Union is so concerned about the human rights situation in Georgia, we could have held a human rights dialogue, which was created precisely for discussing such issues with Georgia, to hear their positions and for them to hear ours. Yet this has not happened. Speculation without any dialogue whatsoever.

Of course, anything can be done, but I still hope that such a decision will not be taken regarding Georgian citizens, and that the European Union will reconsider punishing Georgia’s people.

However, it is extremely difficult to rely on the rationality of any decision under today’s bureaucratic conditions, especially when we observe so many irrational choices coming from the EU’s External Action Service. We are not the only ones raising this issue; many others are discussing it today, and a great deal is being written about it. Repeatedly, we hear that the work of the EU’s External Action Service is not sufficiently effective and does not adequately serve Europe’s interests.

Honestly, I cannot see that their calls to abolish the visa-free regime serve any genuine purpose. Most of these voices originate from opposition representatives, members of various political groups, and so-called non-governmental organisations, which seem to operate as satellites in some coordinated manner. We also hear them saying, with hands on hearts, that we are doing everything to prevent Georgian citizens from having their visa-free travel to the EU suspended. No, the Georgian government has done everything to ensure that Georgian citizens have a visa-free travel regime with the EU and is doing everything for them to benefit from this regime.

Countless steps have been taken over the years. We don’t talk about these efforts every day, do we? So much has been achieved, from readmission agreements to strengthened police cooperation, the deployment of police attachés, and beyond. All of these are our initiatives. For instance, the introduction of border controls when we began conducting joint checks with the EU side for citizens travelling to EU member states. Do you know how many measures Georgia has implemented to meet the requirements for visa-free travel and to ensure that our citizens face no obstacles when travelling to EU countries? I would say this: if such a decision is made, it would be the greatest strategic mistake on the part of the European Union, and of the EU’s External Action Service”, - said Maka Botchorishvili