🇦🇿🇺🇸The U.S. condemns Iran’s March 5 drone strikes on Nakhchivan and expresses solidarity with Azerbaijan, the U.S. Embassy says.
#Azerbaijan #USA #Iran #Nakhchivan #DroneAttack #SouthCaucasus #BreakingNenews.az/news/us-stands…aCDF— News.Az (@news_az) Mar 6, 2026
Azerbaycan yalnız değildir! Kardeşliğimiz her türlü saldırıdan daha güçlüdür. 🇦🇿🇹🇷
#Azerbaycan #CanAzerbaycan #Baku #SouthCaucasus #HaksızlığaDupic.x.com/wfkkDuFwEfFwEf— Sanat İstanbul (@portrecilik) Mar 6, 2026
European Commission on new laws in Georgia
A new package of laws adopted by the Georgian parliament regulating foreign funding and political activity has drawn sharp criticism from the European Union.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Marta Kos, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, said in a joint statement that the new laws derail Georgia from its path towards EU membership and violate international human rights obligations.
They said the legislative changes introduce a new system of state control over political activity and create serious legal uncertainty.
“The adoption by the Georgian parliament on 4 March of a package of legislative acts on foreign funding and political activity is part of the Georgian government’s systematic efforts to restrict the country’s democratic and civic space.
The new laws introduce broad state control over political activity in the country. They create potential criminal liability for individuals or organisations receiving support from foreign sources. Their vague provisions create serious legal uncertainty and significant risks of arbitrary and selective enforcement.
By adopting this package of legislation, the Georgian government is further disregarding its international human rights obligations, its commitments under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement, and moving even further away from the goal of EU membership enshrined in Georgia’s constitution. This comes against the backdrop of actions already taken by the Georgian government which have led to the unjust detention of politicians, journalists and activists, who must be immediately released.
The actions of the Georgian authorities have had consequences. For example, today, in response to Georgia’s deliberate and systematic violation of its obligations under the visa-free regime in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights, the European Commission suspended visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports under the updated visa liberalisation suspension mechanism.
In this context, it is important to recall the depth and substance of the cooperation that has developed between the EU and Georgia over many years. The EU and its member states have consistently expressed their commitment to Georgia’s prosperity and stability and have provided reliable support at critical moments, including through the work of the EU Monitoring Mission since 2008.
The EU supported Georgia during the economic crisis and provided financial assistance. After Russia imposed restrictions on Georgian exports, the EU expanded trade opportunities for Georgian producers. Unlike holders of Georgian diplomatic, service or official passports, Georgian citizens can still travel to the EU without a visa.
The EU welcomes young Georgians, offering hundreds of scholarships. EU support for Georgia’s security, territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders remains unwavering. We opened the door to Georgia’s accession to the EU family by granting it candidate status in 2023. The EU remains ready to support the people of Georgia on their European path.
The Georgian authorities are seriously undermining this long-standing partnership and are, regrettably, moving Georgia even further away from the path to the European Union — a goal supported by the overwhelming majority of the Georgian population. At this stage, we note with deep regret that Georgia’s status as a candidate country for EU membership has now been reduced to a mere name,” the statement by Kallas and Kos said.
Background
On 4 March 2026, the ruling Georgian Dream party adopted, in a third reading, amendments to the law on grants and added Article 316 to the criminal code — “extremism against the constitutional order” — which предусматривает punishment in the form of a fine, community service of 400 to 600 hours, or imprisonment for up to three years.
In addition, under the new amendments, a business legal entity can for the first time be fined (20,000 lari) for “political activity”, and in case of a repeated offence face a prison sentence of up to three years.
The government has also criminalised foreign lobbying and amended the Organic Law on Political Associations of Citizens. Under the changes, a person employed under a labour contract by an organisation receiving more than 20% of its annual income from a foreign state is barred from being a member of a Georgian political party for eight years.
European Commission on new laws in Georgia
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EU visa-free travel suspended for Georgia
The European Commission has suspended visa-free travel to the EU for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports. The decision came into force on 6 March and will initially remain in place for one year.
This is the first time the EU has applied its new strengthened visa suspension mechanism.
Brussels links the move to what it described as the Georgian authorities’ “deliberate and systematic violation” of their obligations in the areas of democracy and fundamental human rights.
What does the European Commission’s decision mean?
● All civil servants holding diplomatic, service or official passports will have to obtain a visa from the relevant embassy in order to travel to EU countries;
● Georgian officials will have to use the appropriate — diplomatic or service — passports during diplomatic or official visits to the EU. Violating this rule could lead to a ban on entry to the EU;
● When Georgian citizens holding diplomatic, service or official passports apply for a Schengen visa, EU member states must carry out stricter checks, including interviews, requests for additional documents and detailed verification of the information provided in the application;
● If there are doubts about the accuracy of the information provided, member states will have the right to refuse to issue a visa;
● The European Commission is also urging member states to conduct enhanced checks on all Georgian citizens crossing the EU’s external borders. These checks should use both national and European databases, including the Visa Information System (VIS), the Schengen Information System (SIS) and other publicly available databases;
● As an additional monitoring tool, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System is being considered. It is expected to be launched gradually from October 2025 and will allow for more detailed monitoring of the movements of third-country nationals;
● The suspension of visa-free travel will initially remain in force for one year. However, if the Georgian authorities do not take steps to ensure the rule of law in the country, the European Commission may extend the measure for another two years;
● Brussels has also not ruled out the possibility of extending restrictions to all Georgian citizens if necessary. The European Commission said that improving the situation depends primarily on the actions of the Georgian authorities and called on Tbilisi to “engage constructively” in the process.
The European Commission said the decision was a response to developments in Georgia in recent months. It noted that actions taken by the government since October 2024 — including the suppression of protests, arrests of opposition politicians and pressure on independent media — have worsened the situation in the country and led to a number of violations of fundamental human rights and international legal norms.
Brussels also noted that Georgia has failed to fully align with the EU’s visa policy, which is a key requirement for maintaining visa liberalisation.
Background
The decision follows the suspension of the EU–Georgia Visa Facilitation Agreement proposed by the European Commission in December 2024 and approved by the Council in January 2025. The suspension of visa-free travel is already being implemented by 19 EU member states.
Today’s decision, adopted under the updated visa suspension mechanism, reintroduces EU-wide visa requirements for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. It also ensures that exemptions for these groups will no longer be possible.
The suspension was adopted in the form of a European Commission Implementing Regulation and received the approval of member states in February 2026.
The updated visa suspension mechanism, which entered into force in December 2025, gives the EU more effective and faster tools to respond to abuse of visa-free travel, security risks and backsliding on the protection of fundamental rights.
EU visa-free travel suspended for Georgia