Yesterday, the European Union decided to introduce restrictions for holders of diplomatic and service passports of Georgia, so those who represent the authorities will now have to apply for visa in case they would like to travel to European Union using their diplomatic and service passports, - EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski told journalists.

“We admire the resilience and attachment of Georgian people to the European future of Georgia and to the democratic values. We see them standing every night here on Rustaveli Avenue and many other places in Georgia, calling for better future for themselves and their children. We stand by the people of Georgia. We understand their fight for better future, better life, democratic country and European Georgia. At the same time, we condemn ongoing intimidation, violence. We are shocked by people being beaten up, being threatened, being intimidated, including media representatives, including politicians, but also ordinary citizens who are chased and beaten by masked men. We are shocked by the impunity and the fact that in spite of two months of ongoing violence on the streets, there was no one persecuted for this.

And of course, as we have said, Georgia's democratic backsliding that has been going on for several months now could it be left without our reaction. Yesterday, European Union decided to introduce restrictions for holders of diplomatic and service passports of Georgia, so those who represent the authorities will now have to apply for visa in case they would like to travel to European Union using their diplomatic and service passports.

As we have said, our intention is not to punish the people of Georgia who are standing on the streets and are demanding democratic European Georgia. Our intention was to punish those who are responsible for repression, those who are responsible for intimidation, those who are responsible for ongoing violence. This is why we have reached a decision that holders of diplomatic and service passports will have to apply for a visa when traveling to the European Union,”, said the Ambassador.