Visa-free travel with the European Union, which is one of the main guarantees of free movement for Georgian citizens in European countries, is currently under serious threat.

The government has not fulfilled the recommendations issued by the European Union as early as 2024, which called for the protection of fundamental human rights, the repeal of restrictive, repressive laws, and a systemic fight against corruption at all levels. Moreover, 2025 has turned out to be even more damaging for Georgia’s European integration. Since the rigged elections of 2024, Georgia now has 65 prisoners of conscience. Additional repressive laws have been adopted, and the persecution of individuals continues to this day.

As is known to the public, by August 31, 2025, the government must submit information to the European Union about the current situation in Georgia. Instead of taking concrete steps to improve the alarming conditions in the country and resolve the political crisis, the government is intensifying anti-Western propaganda.

Due to the actions of the government, the threat is real that Georgian citizens may lose the opportunities provided by visa-free travel with the EU — such as visiting family members, traveling freely, receiving medical care, studying, working, and developing within the European space.

Georgia is part of the European family. Like more than 80% of the Georgian population, we believe that Georgia’s future lies in the European Union. However, the course chosen by the government is destroying that future.

As the EU Ambassador has noted, returning to the European path requires:

• an end to repressions
• the release of unjustly imprisoned individuals
• the repeal of repressive laws
• the initiation of an open and credible dialogue to overcome the ongoing crisis

We, Georgian non-governmental organizations, place full responsibility on the government for any negative decision regarding visa-free travel and believe that surrendering our European future is unacceptable. It is essential to protect visa-free travel — to protect Georgia’s European path.