Day: January 10, 2024
According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Germany, 9,399 Georgian citizens applied for asylum in Germany in 2023 of which only 0.3% were approved.
In total, Germany received 351,915 asylum applications in 2023, an increase of 51.1 percent compared to 2022. Most asylum seekers came from Syria (104,561), Turkey (62,624), Afghanistan (53,582), Iraq (12,360) and Iran (10,206). Georgia ranks sixth on the list.
On August 30, Germany’s coalition government approved a bill by Interior Minister Nancy Feaser to list Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin. The move aimed at speeding up the processing of asylum applications and facilitating faster deportations for those who are rejected.
On December 18, the German Minister of Interior and Community, Nancy Feaser visited Georgia. During her visit, she met with the Georgian Minister of Interior, Vakhtang Gomelauri, and signed an Agreement on Migration and Mobility. According to the Georgian MIA, the agreement aims to bolster collaboration between Georgia and the Federal Republic of Germany in the field of labor migration and education, with an emphasis on enhancing educational and internship for Georgian students and researchers. It also aims to intensify efforts against illegal migration, which includes strengthening cooperation on the readmission and reintegration of Georgian citizens of who have violated visa-free travel regulations.
An anti-occupation movement, “Power is in Unity,” which regularly monitors the occupation line and reports on the situation, shared pictures of new military trenches being dug on the occupied territory of the Tskhinvali region near the village of Gremiskhevi. The State Security Service later confirmed the borderization activity by Russian forces, adding that the hotline mechanism has been activated, and the EUMM has been informed about the “destructive acts.”
A group of Civil Society Organizations issued a joint statement on the government’s action plan (AP) to implement the European Commission’s recommendations under the EU candidate status. While acknowledging the approval of AP as a positive step, CSOs emphasized the lack of civic and parliamentary engagement during its development. The statement also indicated the absence of specific indicators across various sectors of AP and called on the government to base its policies on participation, dialogue, and openness.
The icon depicting Stalin that still decorates the Tbilisi Trinity Cathedral continues to fuel controversy and tension as videos circulating on social networks suggest it was painted blue as a sign of protest. Civic activist Nata Peradze was the first to post the video on her Facebook page, indirectly claiming “responsibility” for painting Stalin blue. The Interior Ministry said it has launched a probe into the matter, qualifying it as petty hooliganism.
Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SOVLAB) issued a statement condemning the placement of the Russian icon depicting Stalin in the Tbilisi Trinity Cathedral, saying it gravely insults the memory of victims of Soviet-Russian totalitarianism. In its statement, SOVLAB also reminded that Stalin was one of the main masterminds of Georgia’s soviet occupation, considering such attempts of his glorification as totally unacceptable and calling on the authorities to react.
In the meantime, Georgian media continues to explore the possible consequences of Ivanishvili’s third political comeback, suggesting that it may lead to a government reshuffle, including the prime minister. Some rumors are also circulating that Tbilisi City Mayor Kakha Kaladze might replace Irakli Garibashvili as prime minister before the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Data of the Day
According to the National Statistics Office, the annual inflation stood at 0.4% in December 2023, suggesting a monthly increase in consumer prices of 0.1%. The National Statistics Office reported that the annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (10.1% increase), transport (5.1% increase), food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.7% decrease), and healthcare (3.8% decrease). The monthly inflation rate was mainly driven by price changes in food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.9% increase), furnishings, household equipment, and maintenance (0.9% decrease), and clothing and footwear (1.1% decrease).