
Valitsus kaotab viisavabastuse Gruusia diplomaatidele
Government abolishes visa waiver for Georgian diplomats
Eesti valitsus plaanib tühistada viisavabastuse Gruusia diplomaatidele. Tavakodanikele jääb viisavabastus kehtima.
The Estonian government plans to abolish the visa waiver for Georgian diplomats. Visa-free travel remains valid for ordinary citizens.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a new draft for coordination. This draft introduces a visa requirement for Georgian diplomats. The current visa waiver for Georgian diplomats will be abolished. Visa-free travel remains valid for ordinary citizens.
The draft states that Georgian diplomats must now apply for a visa when coming to the European Union and Estonia. The aim is to end the preferential conditions for diplomats in the visa process. All Georgian diplomats must now have a visa.
The Council of the European Union made the decision on January 27. This suspended the agreement between the European Union and Georgia, which simplifies visa issuance. The regulation of the European Parliament and the Council states that Georgian ordinary citizens still have visa-free travel.
The Georgian government has engaged in actions that violate human rights and democracy. Therefore, the Council of the European Union decided to partially suspend the visa facilitation agreement. Visa-free travel no longer applies to Georgian diplomats representing their government.
All other Georgian citizens can still travel to the European Union without a visa. They can stay here for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The Ministry of the Interior provided feedback on this draft.
Estonia introduced visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats in 2006. The current draft changes this rule.