Sergi Kapanadze, head of the Georgian Reform Association, has stated that the potential loss of visa-free travel with the European Union is a direct consequence of Hungary’s intervention on behalf of the ruling party, "Georgian Dream."
Speaking on the TV program Analytics, Kapanadze emphasized that the most significant blow to the Georgian government would be the imposition of personal sanctions by the EU, particularly targeting individuals.
“In my opinion, the most painful consequence for ‘Georgian Dream’ will be EU sanctions against those who feed this regime, be it financially, through media propaganda, or other mechanisms,” said Kapanadze. “The European Union is well-informed on this issue, and discussions are ongoing, as far as I know.”
According to Kapanadze, these sanctions—requiring unanimous approval by EU member states—were blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the request of "Georgian Dream." He argued that if this had not happened, the issue of suspending Georgia’s visa-free regime would not have been raised at all.
“This is yet another example of anti-Georgian actions,” he said. “They think they’re protecting themselves, but in doing so, they are endangering the country’s hard-won visa liberalization with the EU. And in the end, they won’t be able to protect themselves either. These sanctions are inevitable; it’s just a matter of time. If Orban continues to block joint sanctions, then the EU will pursue individual measures.”
Kapanadze’s remarks come amid growing concerns about democratic backsliding in Georgia and increasing tensions between the Georgian government and European institutions.
