On January 24, 2025, the European Union announced new visa restrictions for certain Georgian officials and their family members in response to the violent suppression of pro-European protests in Georgia. The decision, confirmed by multiple diplomats, prohibits these individuals from traveling to the EU without a visa.
Georgians holding regular passports will continue to enjoy visa-free travel for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen stated that the visa restrictions are a decisive reaction to the Georgian government's violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators, political opponents, and independent media.
The protests in Georgia, ongoing for several months, were fueled by allegations of irregularities in recent parliamentary elections and the ruling party's announcement to suspend the EU accession process until 2028. Critics have raised concerns about potential Russian influence on these developments.
Recent demonstrations have seen repeated violence, resulting in injuries and hundreds of arrests, with police accused of brutality and torture. A proposal to impose complete EU entry bans on several officials responsible for police violence was considered but ultimately blocked by Hungary and Slovakia, which argued that the EU was favoring the protesters.