Legislative changes regarding foreign migrants will introduce a new mechanism by which granting of asylum to the foreigner will be considered at state border without the foreigner entering the country

Within the framework of the legislative amendments prepared by the government regarding foreign migrants, a new mechanism is being introduced, as a result of which, in a number of cases, the issue of granting asylum to a foreigner will be considered at the state border of Georgia without his/her entry into the territory of Georgia.

According to the legislative amendments prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an application will be considered through the border procedure in one of the following cases: - if there are grounds for recognizing the application as inadmissible or for an expedited consideration; if the person poses a threat to the state security, territorial integrity and public safety of Georgia; if the person was expelled due to posing a threat to the state security, territorial integrity and public safety of Georgia.

The term for consideration of the application at the border and making a decision shall not exceed 28 calendar days.

As Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated at the joint session of three parliamentary committees, in order to accommodate foreigners or stateless persons and create appropriate conditions, it will be necessary to arrange appropriate spaces and infrastructure at border crossing points.

“The problem has been especially acute after the war in Ukraine. When certain territories of Ukraine were occupied by Russia, including penitentiaries. A certain number of prisoners began to be released from prisons. These people came directly to the Larsi border checkpoint. They only had a document of release from prison. Russia did not take them back, and these people remained in the neutral zone.

The Security Service had certain recommendations that their admission to the country was a certain threat.

These people were asking for asylum from Georgia, and we did not have any mechanism. If they returned, they would have to get involved in the war.

The international obligation that we have requires that we provide people with an effective asylum system. Therefore, Georgia had to allow these people into the country. Of course, control was imposed on their movement and so on. These were not just people convicted of theft - they had committed quite serious crimes.

Then we asked international organizations what we should do and what the solution was in such a situation. They suggested that countries have a practice of discussing the issue at the border without allowing a person into the country," said Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.

The package of legislative amendments initiated by the government regarding foreign citizens and foreign migrants, as a result of which the immigration policy will be tightened, was discussed and supported by the parliamentary committees on European Integration, Foreign Relations and Health at the joint session today.