In Georgia, began to operate a visa-free regime with the European Union

Photo: depositphotos.com

Georgia's visa-free regime with Europe came into force on March 28. In this regard, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, together with students and scientists with ordinary biometric passports of Georgian citizens, went on a symbolic trip to European countries, in particular to Athens, as the oldest cultural capital of Europe, and then to the political capital of the European Union - Brussels, writes "Voice of America«.

“Today is a historic day - visa-free travel to the EU countries for Georgian citizens has begun. This is a great achievement and a good opportunity to get to know the European Union better, to get to know the values ​​on which the European Union stands ... this is a great achievement that was made possible not only by the consistent and intensive work of the government, but also by the huge involvement of citizens. I want to congratulate you on this great historical beginning, ”Kvirikashvili said before leaving.

Recall, Georgia has been waiting for the abolition of the visa regime with the EU for several years. Among the countries of the former USSR, with the exception of the Baltic countries, Georgia is the second after Moldova, to which the EU has granted visa liberalization. The visa-free regime applies to business, tourist and family visits, but does not provide employment rights. Georgian citizens with biometric passports can visit the countries and candidate countries of the Schengen zone (Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus), as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland without visas, and stay in their territory 90 days during the 180-day period.

In parallel, from March 28, the mechanism for the rapid suspension of a visa-free message was also activated, which will enable the EU to take appropriate measures in the event of massive violations of the visa-free regime. According to the head of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Dzhanelidze, the violators of the rules and tenure in the EU countries will be deported, and they will be denied entry into the Schengen zone for 5 years. In addition, each deported citizen will be fined 3 thousands of euros.

European vector and Russian propaganda

The head of the Center for the Study of Security and International Relations Nika Chitadze believes that the abolition of the visa regime with the EU for Georgian citizens is primarily of political importance. Thus, in recent years, against the backdrop of a delay in the abolition of visas by the EU, disappointment has grown in Georgia and skepticism about the European Union has intensified. All of this, the political analyst says, was parallelly “fed” by Russian propaganda that Europe allegedly did not need Georgia, and that, despite the promises of the EU and Tbilisi’s efforts, European integration would never become a reality.

“The decision of the European Union to activate visa-free communication with Georgia confirms that not only Tbilisi, but also the EU is interested in expanding contacts and rapprochement and, most likely, in Georgia’s accession. Moreover, this also means that Ukraine will soon follow Georgia, and that the regions that Russia has been trying to represent in its sphere of influence have not been there for a long time, ”the expert said in an interview with Voice of America.

Now, says Chitadze, after the collapse of the myth that Georgia and Ukraine "are not needed by anyone in Europe," Russia is trying to spread the "new myth" that the European Union is falling apart, and that, ultimately, Georgia and Ukraine will be in association, which will soon cease to exist.

Photo: depositphotos.com

“Initially, in 1951, this union consisted of 6 countries, and since then growth has been evident, today in the EU there are 28 member states, and a number of other countries are seeking to join it. The fact that the UK leaves the EU does not really mean the end of the European Union. Simply presenting the situation in this way is advantageous to European skeptics and the Russian propaganda machine, ”Chitadze said.

"Specific Result"

Professor Malkhaz Matsaberidze, director of the Institute of Political Science at Tbilisi State University, believes that the abolition of visa-free communication with Europe is a “concrete and significant” result of Georgia’s European course.

“Visualization, as a political act, is a very important, tangible result of the pro-Western policy that all governments have purposefully pursued since Georgia gained independence,” the political analyst said in an interview with the Russian service of Voice of America.

Matsaberidze believes that visa-free communication with Europe is likely to provide an incentive for Russia, in turn, to cancel the visa regime for Georgian citizens. According to the expert, Moscow, which seeks to restore its influence in the post-Soviet space, will now be forced to compare its “aggression” against Georgia and “soft power”.

“Moscow often juggled with this topic, promising to ease the visa regime with Georgia, providing it as a result of a warming relationship. Russian politicians spoke about the abolition of entry visas to the Russian Federation for Georgian citizens only if Tbilisi restores diplomatic relations with Russia, which Georgia considers impossible under Russian occupation. Free communication with Europe will force Russia to take a similar step, ”Matsaberidze said.

Recall that the visa regime between Russia and Georgia came into force on December 5 2000 of the year at the initiative of Russia. From 29 February 2012, according to the decree of Mikhail Saakashvili, then President of Georgia, citizens of the Russian Federation can cross the Georgian border and remain in the country without a visa for one year.

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