European Union foreign ministers on Monday approved the suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian officials holding diplomatic passports, two diplomats told Reuters.

The move comes in response to a violent crackdown in Georgia on pro-EU protests.

Ministers had asked the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, to make a proposal on the issue when they met in December. The measure aims to affect leading Georgian politicians without imposing a punishment on ordinary citizens.

Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in an election in October that the opposition says was tainted by fraud.

A government announcement in November that it was suspending EU accession talks until 2028 led to protests and a crackdown.

Speaking ahead of the ministers’ meeting on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had redirected funds to Georgian civil society.

"It is in the hands of Georgian people to really get this right," she said.