“All options are on the table regarding Georgia, including suspending the visa-free regime and other measures that could pressure the Georgian government to rethink its course,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaking to journalists in Brussels ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
“We are seeing serious democratic backsliding in Georgia,” she added. “We will discuss what more can be done.”
She further noted that the list of proposed sanctions regarding Georgia also includes judges.
“Yes, we proposed a list because we see that the sentences handed down against young protesters are really, really disproportionate. So clearly, the judicial system is also part of this apparatus. Therefore, yes, the sanctions package includes two judges. We are discussing this. As you know, we had a blockage before, but we are also reviewing our working methods regarding this, and we will continue the process later,” Kallas said in response to a question from Euroscope editor Tamar Nutsubidze: “Can you confirm that you have proposed a list of targeted sanctions and that it includes judges as well?”
She added that if unanimity is not reached regarding the sanctions, they will not be able to approve them.
“We’re trying, but if we cannot overcome the blockage, then we won’t succeed. However, today there will be a letter sent to Georgia regarding the visa-free regime. They must meet certain conditions, and if those conditions are not fulfilled within the deadline, we will have to suspend the visa-free regime,” Kallas stated.
