Today, the EU decided to impose visa restrictions on diplomats and state officials of Georgia due to police repression of opposition protesters demanding a repeat of the disputed October elections.
Head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kalas, who presided over the meeting of Union foreign affairs ministers, confirmed, however, that the European twenty-seven could not agree on the introduction of sanctions against individuals in Georgia, as they were not unanimous.
Tens of thousands of pro-European protesters have regularly filled Georgia's streets in recent weeks, after the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to end EU accession talks. Police are increasingly resorting to force in an effort to break up gatherings, AP writes.
Former soccer player Miheil Kavelashvili became Georgia's president on Saturday as the ruling Georgian Dream party consolidates power after elections the opposition says were rigged with Moscow's help.
Kalas said after what she called "very tense talks" between the Union's foreign ministers, they decided to "suspend the visa-free regime for diplomatic and official passports" in that country.
The European Commission was given the task of preparing that measure.
Kalas also stated that a list of Georgian officials against whom sanctions should be imposed was presented, but that Hungary and Slovakia (which are considered the most friendly towards Russia within the EU) blocked the move.
"For sanctions, we need all 27 to agree," Kalas said, but added that the introduction of visa restrictions is an important first step.
Agence France-Presse indicates that blocking the visa-free regime for Georgian officials is a purely symbolic move, since ordinary citizens of Georgia can still enter the EU without visas.
Callas chaired her first meeting of EU foreign ministers since taking office on December 1.
"This is my first Hungarian veto, but I can guarantee that it will not be the last," she said.
Hungary will preside over the EU until the end of the month, and from January 1, Poland will take over that duty.
The EU granted Georgia candidate status for membership in December 2023, but suspended that process and cut off financial aid in June after the adoption of a law on foreign influence seen as a blow to democratic freedoms.
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