Gorduladze Says EU Cannot Legally Demand Georgia Repeal Laws Under Visa Liberalization Threat
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, August 15, 2025
Georgian Dream Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Archil Gorduladze stated there is no legal provision that would allow the European Union to demand Georgia repeal specific laws under threat of revoking visa liberalization. Speaking to journalists, Gorduladze said the ruling Georgian Dream party expects countries to take a pragmatic view of developments in Georgia and, more broadly, of states that do not follow what he called the "directives of the deep state." He warned that the same "wave of injustice" aimed at Georgia would eventually reach those countries as well.
"Everyone remembers well that we have an international agreement with the European Union, which entails association, alignment of our legislation with EU legislation, and the implementation of a series of reforms," Gorduladze said. "However, this agreement is bilateral. This includes the visa liberalization component, which imposes obligations on both sides. The agreement outlines the criteria that Georgia must meet to benefit from the visa liberalization process. I state with full responsibility that there is no legal provision under which anyone could tell us to repeal specific laws, which are in our country's interest and have been adopted, including in the form of executive orders in the United States, or else visa liberalization will be revoked."
Gorduladze stressed that Georgia wants closer integration with Europe and the European Union because of a commitment to the rule of law and democratic principles. However, he said the EU's current approach is "deeply disappointing" and undermines the very principles it claims to uphold.
"When the law is simply disregarded, and through direct insult to the law, direct violation, and undermining of the rule of law, they attempt to intrusively dictate something that is of utmost importance for our country's security and sovereignty, it once again underscores that there is no longer any place for the rule of law, legality, or democracy in the European Union, which is the most disappointing aspect," Gorduladze said.
He reiterated that the Georgian Dream party expects countries to assess the situation based on pragmatic considerations and recognize that the kind of pressure currently placed on Georgia could be extended to others. "The wave of injustice they are trying to impose on Georgia will inevitably reach these countries as well. Based on the same principles, these countries will also be unfairly and groundlessly required to comply with directives and make legislative changes that are not favorable to the deep state," Gorduladze stated.
