RFE/RL reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an executive decree on October 10 expanding visa-free access for Georgians who work or study in Russia beyond 90 days. The EU is considering ending Georgia’s visa free access to the EU due to the democratic backsliding of the ruling Georgian Dream Party. Following rumors that the visa-free system might be terminated, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described the proposal as “cheap Blackmail”. “Concerns over Georgia’s democracy reached a fever pitch following the passage of the foreign agents legislation by the ruling Georgian Dream Party. The law requires that organizations receiving foreign funding be labeled “foreign agent” and mirrors the repressive Russian laws used to crackdown on Kremlin-regime critics. Bidzina Ivanishvili – the de facto leader for the ruling Georgian Dream Party – has been trying to warm up relations with Russia in recent weeks by declaring that Georgia must “apologize” over the 2008 war between Russia and the country.
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