The Ivanishvili government is fully responsible for creating a threat to visa-free travel, - reads the statement signed by about 40 non-governmental organizations.

The organizations call on the founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, to stop the "sabotage of the European elections and the Georgian Constitution" of the absolute majority of the Georgian population.

“According to reports, on July 15, the European Union sent an official letter to the Ivanishvili government, which concerns the possibility of reviewing the conditions of the visa-free regime. The letter reflects the serious concerns of the European Union about the current situation in Georgia - democratic regression, violation of legal standards and disregard for European values.

We, the organizations signing the statement, respond to the fair questions raised by the European Union and emphasize that:

Georgian citizens gained the right to visa-free travel not through the efforts of the government, but through the efforts of the entire society - this was a historic decision based on the implementation of democratic reforms, respect for the rule of law and the protection of human rights;

It is clear to everyone that the actions of the Ivanishvili government in recent years have significantly exceeded the framework of the implementation of reforms agreed with the European Union. The persecution of critical media, civil society and political opponents undermines the country’s democratic future;

If visa-free travel for Georgian citizens is suspended, the full responsibility for this will lie with the Ivanishvili government, which has single-handedly destroyed the progress achieved through decades of hard work and which, against the will of the Georgian people, is deliberately harming the country's Western future.

We believe that such a warning from the European Union is a signal to both the Ivanishvili government and society as a whole: it is clear to us that the European family will not tolerate ignoring democratic values. This is the last warning to change the destructive course that is distancing us from Europe.

We emphasize that Georgian non-governmental organizations, like the absolute majority of our society, remain unwavering supporters of Georgia's European integration. We continue to fight for the values that connect us to Europe not only in documents, but also in essence - on the basis of freedom, dignity and the rule of law.

We call on Ivanishvili to stop sabotaging the European choice of the absolute majority of the Georgian population and the Constitution of Georgia,” reads the statement, signed by:

1. Association "Social Umbrella"
2. Eastern European Center for Multi-Party Democracy (EECMD)
3. Eastern European Center for Multi-Party Democracy
4. Youth for the Development of Samegrelo
5. International Institute for Education Policy, Planning and Management
6. Gori Photographers Club - Gori Art House
7. Democracy Research Center
8. Defenders of Democracy
9. Europe-Georgia Institute
10. Economic Policy Research Center
11. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
12. Lomeki
13. Media Ombudsman
14. Prevention for Progress
15. Professio - Personal and Professional Development Center
16. Union of Journalists "Voice of the People"
17. Transparency International Georgia
18. Civil Movement for Freedom
19. Civil Society Foundation
20. SAORSA
21. Sapari
22. Georgian Young Lawyers Association
23. Georgian Association for Children's Mental Health
24. Georgian European Orbit
25. Georgian Psychosocial Assistance Association "Trust"
26. Georgian Psychotrauma Society
27. Institute for Tolerance and Democracy
28. Rights Georgia
29. Women for Regional Development
30. Kvemo Kartli Women's Association "Women and World"
31. Alliance of Women with Disabilities
32. Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation for Torture Victims - GCRT
33. DOCA Documentary Film Association
34. ENPUD - Phoenix 2009
35. Femina
36. Start now
37. WeResearch