UNM says Georgia-EU visa liberalisation at risk

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party says that the EU-Georgia visa liberalisation is at risk because the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has withdrawn from the EU-mediated agreement signed in April and that the Georgian Dream government ‘betrayed the EU values.’ 

The ruling party MPs have responded  that what the UNM says is ‘absolutely ungrounded.’

Per media reports ungrounded requests on asylum from Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the Balkan states trigger discussions in the EU on suspension of visa liberalisation. 

The ruling party backed out from the EU-mediated agreement, which resolved a six-month political standoff in Georgia, back in July. 

The agreement obliged the ruling party and other parties to ensure the conduct of large scale electoral and judiciary reforms. 

The UNM signed the agreement only after the GD withdrew from it. 

Georgia has enjoyed visa free movement with the EU since 2017.