Georgian PM says suspending EU visa waiver would be counterproductive

 Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said suspending the EU visa-free regime for Georgian citizens would be a counterproductive move.

“If anyone hopes to spark unrest in Georgia by cancelling the visa-free regime, that would be counterproductive,” he told Imedi TV.

In July, the European Commission warned Tbilisi it must repeal laws on “foreign agents” and bans on LGBT “propaganda” by the end of August or risk losing visa-free travel.

The Georgian government later refused to withdraw the laws, offering instead to start a dialogue, but Brussels has not responded. Kobakhidze has since said Georgia is ready to meet EU demands if they are “reasonable and justified.”