Aleksandre Darakhvelidze explains whether the legislative amendments that provide for the expulsion of foreign convicts and a ban on entering the country before the expiration of their sentence will affect Mikheil Saakashvili
The local council will have the right, after serving a specific term, to consider, in a mandatory manner, replacing the remaining prison sentence of a convicted foreigner with a lighter sentence, such as expulsion and a ban on entering the country, - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated at the plenary session of the Parliament.
According to him, the aforementioned legislative amendment will significantly contribute to the reduction of overcrowding of prisons and the expulsion of foreign citizens from the country.
In addition, Darakhvelidze notes that according to the legislative amendments, the powers of the Migration Department will be expanding and it will be granted the authority to conduct operational-detective activities.
“If a persons is convicted and is serving a sentence in a penitentiary institution, after serving a specific term - 1/3 in the case of a less serious crime, 1/2 in the case of a serious crime, and 2/3 in the case of an especially serious crime, the local council, if the relevant criteria are met, will have the right, without submitting an application, to consider, on a mandatory basis, replacing the remaining prison sentence of the convicted foreigner with a lighter sentence, such as deportation and a ban on entering the country. In this case, we believe that this will significantly contribute to the reduction of overcrowding of prisons and the expulsion of foreign citizens who have been proven to have committed a crime,” Darakhvelidze said.
The Deputy Minister was asked by the European Socialists MP, Vladimer Bozhadze, whether the legislative amendments regarding the sentence would apply to the 3rd President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili.
In response, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze noted that the amendments apply to all persons who meet the criteria and the law cannot be tailored to one person.
“I would like to clearly explain to the public that when a change is introduced into the law, this change applies to all persons who meet the criteria provided for by the law. Therefore, naturally, there cannot be any changes for one person and it is impossible for such a change to be initiated,” Darakhvelidze said.
