Switzerland suspends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and civil servants

From April 3, holders of Georgian diplomatic, official and service passports will need a visa to enter Switzerland. The relevant decision was made by the Swiss Federal Council at its meeting on April 1.

According to the Swiss government, the measure will remain in force for 12 months and will not apply to other citizens of Georgia.

According to them, the European Union has recently tightened the visa suspension mechanism for third countries, which allows it to temporarily reinstate the visa requirement on new grounds.

The statement notes that such grounds include the deterioration of foreign relations with a third country, including circumstances related to the violation of human and fundamental rights.

According to the Swiss government, the European Union has decided to use this mechanism in relation to Georgia and, referring to the legislative amendments adopted in Georgia last year, suspended the visa-free regime for Georgian diplomats and civil servants for a period of 12 months.

According to them, this decision of the European Union represents a further development of the Schengen legal framework, the adoption of which is mandatory for Switzerland.

In addition, the amendments provide for the introduction of relevant amendments to the Regulation on entry and issuance of visas, as well as the suspension of several articles of the Agreement on the Facilitation of the Issuance of Visas between Switzerland and Georgia.