Day: January 22, 2026

A leading European news outlet with an office in Baku, established in November 2025, has published an article focusing on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan,…

The European Commission has launched a procedure under a new mechanism to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports, Commission Spokesperson Markus Lammert said at a January 21 midday briefing, adding that the suspension will apply across all EU Member States, with the possibility of extending it to the entire Georgian population in the future.

Noting that visa-free travel is aimed at enhancing “people-to-people contacts” and promoting “shared values,” including “respect for human rights and democratic principles,” Lammert said, “The Commission considers that the actions of the Georgian authorities undermine these principles” and are “inconsistent with the norms and values of the Union,” while also hampering the “steady development of economic, humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties between the Union and Georgia.”

“Now, as a first step, the Commission has transmitted its assessment to Parliament and the Council. Once adopted, the actions will ensure that a uniform application of the suspension for these diplomatic passport holders in all member states will take place,” he stated.

Asked whether the suspension could apply to the general population, Lammert said that if there is “continued backsliding,” the Commission could extend it to the entire population, while stressing that such an extension is “not automatic.”

When asked whether the EU could target individuals instead of passports, since diplomats often hold regular passports, he said the suspension targets passports, not people.

Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders lost visa-free travel privileges in January 2025, but the measure required individual approvals from member states. The new suspension is based on a new legal framework Lammert described as “more flexible” and “notably faster,” with the difference being “uniform application by member states.” “Before this was more a form of recommendation, and now we can ensure that there is a uniform application by member states,” he said.

Also Read:

• 19/12/2025 – Georgia Could Lose Visa Free ‘Entirely’, EU Commission’s Visa Report Warns
• 01/09/2025 – Georgians Brace for Loss as EU Visa-Free Deadline Passes
• 17/07/2025 – Kobakhidze Says Visa-Free Travel “Not Existential” as Brussels Warns of Suspension
  

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