Georgia, a former Soviet Republic, has long wanted to turn toward more European models of government and society. It’s been hard to make connections, though, especially as Moscow has made efforts to keep former Soviet countries within their sphere of interest. That’s part of why Georgia and Russia fought a brief war in 2008 over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which wanted to break away.
Now, after years of discussion, citizens of Georgia can finally travel to the EU without visas. People from the breakaway regions can, too, as long as they have a Georgian biometric passport. Georgians can’t travel to the entire EU without a visa—the UK and Ireland aren’t included in the new visa regime—but Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, which are not members of the EU, are.
“This is an enormous achievement and a great opportunity for Georgian citizens to better acquaint [themselves] with the European Union, to better learn the values that the European Union stands on,” Georgia Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili told reporters at Tbilisi Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Athens on March 28.
In light of increasing nationalism throughout the EU, some countries have had qualms about further opening up their borders. This comes on the heels of the largest refugee crisis that Europe has seen since World War II, spurred in part by the ease of moving through the European Union. It was a big part of the Brexit vote as well, which no doubt contributed to the UK not being a part of the new regime.
But for the people of Georgia, this is a big deal, and the news was met with celebrations around the country.
“I think it is a huge step forward for the country, especially young people will benefit from it,” a Tbilisi resident told Radio Free Europe. “Many of them will be able to fulfill their dreams. Some of them may even start a business. Anyway, it’s very exciting and very good.”
Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union for nearly 70 years, and leaving the USSR, much less going to Western Europe, was nearly impossible. With the new visa regime, we hope the nation will become closer to the peoples of EU.
President Dalia Grybauskaite of EU member state Lithuania congratulated Georgians via a YouTube video address. “From now on, our nations will be even closer, all because of the efforts of the Georgian people,” she said. “Your commitment to freedom and democracy is an example for the region.”
Photo: Tbilisi, Georgia, at sunset. Picture from Shutterstock