We need to talk not only about migration as a global process, but also about the inability of state institutions to manage this process effectively and legally, - this was addressed by “Gakharia for Georgia” MP Giga Parulava to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during his interpellation hearing in Parliament.

As Parulava noted, along with global processes, the growth of migration is driven by the ineffective functioning of state agencies.

“The issue of increased migration in the country being a problem has been known for a long time. No matter how much you talk about numbers and try to downplay this problem, our citizens see and feel it vividly in their daily lives.

We need to talk not only about migration as a global process, but also about the inability of state institutions to manage this process effectively and legally. Precisely the heavy perceptions and real problems in society have prompted you to talk about this issue yourselves and assess it as an imposed problem, thereby trying to evade responsibility.

Along with global processes, the growth of migration is driven by the ineffective functioning of state agencies. When border crossing is insufficiently controlled, the stay periods of migrants in the country are unmanaged, and illegal employment in the labor market proceeds unhindered - the fact is that the law enforcement system is ineffective. Today you are telling us that migration in the country needs to be regulated and the relevant agencies strengthened. Where have you been until now? For all these years, why wasn’t an effective immigration policy formed? Why doesn’t an effective monitoring system exist for foreigners in the country? The problem is not only in migrants - the problem is in institutional capabilities to ensure effective law enforcement and to protect the country’s and its citizens’ interests, especially when you claim to protect national values.

When we talk about national values, let me remind you of Georgian land, which, as you yourself stated, was transferred to an Arab company for investment. Despite the great interest of Georgian citizens, important details regarding this investment package remain vague to this day. One reason why today you are talking about migration in a light context and presenting Arabization and migration in general as an imposed theme is precisely the public outrage and negative attitude toward these vague Arab investments. Make the investment package transparent. We are not against investments. Investments are important for Georgia, but make it transparent - why and how was this company selected? Instead, your entire team is engaged in marketing and PR for the development project.

In parallel with talking about migration, we cannot avoid touching on the much more acute issue of emigration. The number of emigrants has sharply increased in the country - Georgians are leaving their homes, families, and homeland due to poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness. They are not leaving by choice - they are leaving by force. Over 160,000 people have left the country since then. Young people are fleeing in search of a better future, the birth rate is low - this is a demographic catastrophe. Do you know why this catastrophe is happening? In the country, we have 180,000 people who receive salaries less than 600 GEL. There are 708,000 people registered who are beyond the poverty line. It is alarming that out of them, 190,000 are adolescents under 18. Against this background, you boast about economic growth, which is reflected only in the pockets of officials.

Effective immigration policy, creating decent socio-economic conditions for our citizens, and fighting drugs - today this is an issue of demographic, social, and national security. We need a state that will create decent conditions for its own citizens and effectively enforce the law in accordance with national interests,” - stated Parulava.