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Day: May 6, 2025
Georgia expelled 96 foreign nationals in April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on May 6. According to the ministry, some individuals left the country voluntarily, while others were deported following enforcement measures carried out by the Migration Department.
“In accordance with the law, the deported individuals have been banned from re-entering the country,” the press release said.
The expelled individuals were citizens of China, Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, South Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Kazakhstan.
In January, the Ministry reported that 91 foreign nationals were expelled from the country during November and December of 2024, including 25 individuals who had participated in the ongoing anti-regime protests in Tbilisi. However, the announcement of May 6 did not specify whether any of the most recent deportees were involved in the rallies.
At the end of April, the GD announced the introduction of the legislative package at the Georgian Dream Parliament that proposes to tighten immigration control. The proposed amendments would expand the grounds for expulsion, introduce biometric data collection for undocumented migrants, and impose harsher penalties for administrative and criminal violations committed by foreign nationals.
Proposed changes to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offenses would introduce two new penalties specifically for foreign nationals: expulsion from Georgia and a ban on entry.
Offenses such as petty hooliganism (Article 166), disobedience to law enforcement’s orders (Article 173), verbal insult of a public-political figure, or violations related to organizing or participating in public gatherings (Article 174/1) could trigger these sanctions, with entry bans lasting up to three years. These clauses have been used most frequently against demonstrators during the ongoing peaceful anti-regime protests.
Among the measures are provisions barring re-entry for up to 20 years for foreigners who commit serious or particularly serious crimes, increased fines for overstaying visas, and new penalties for Georgian citizens or legal entities who invite, employ, or use the services of foreigners who violate residency or work regulations.
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Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, today, May 6, appointed new governors (state representatives) of five regions of Georgia.
The new governors are Aleksandre Zagashvili in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Simon Guledani in Shida Kartli, Zaal Gelashvili in Samtkhe-Javakheti, Giorgi Ghurjumelidze in Guria, and Levan Kharabadze in Kvemo Kartli.
Their appointment follows the GD’s decision to separate the Ministry of Regional Development from the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, in a split that critics say is aimed at tightening the ruling party’s grip on the regions ahead of local elections in October. The suspicions were based in part on GD’s initial plan to appoint outgoing state security chief Grigol Liluashvili to head the newly created Ministry of Regional Development. However, following a reported disagreement, the ruling party dropped his candidacy and named Kakhaber Guledani instead.
The newly appointed governors met today with GD PM Kobakhidze and GD Regional Development Minister Guledani at the government administration building.
According to an official press release from the GD government, Irakli Kobakhidze spoke about regional development projects and stressed the need for state representatives with “experience, professionalism, and integrity” as he wished the newly appointed governors success.
Who is Who?
The Governor of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Aleksandre Zagashvili, has worked in both the public and private sectors. In 2017-2021, he was the mayor of Kazbegi municipality.
The Governor of Shida Kartli, Simon Guletiani, has until now held the post of the first deputy mayor of Gori. He has served at various times as the first deputy governor of Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, and Khashuri municipalities.
The Governor of Samtkhe Javakheti, Zaal Gelashvili, was until now head of the supervisory office of the LtD Bakuriani Development Agency, working under the municipal mayor of Borjomi. He has also held several positions in the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Governor of Guria, Giorgi Ghurjumelidze, has served since 2021 as the first deputy mayor of Ozurgeti municipality. He also took the post of deputy governor of Ozurgeti and deputy chairman of Ozurgeti City Hall [Sakrebulo].
Governor of Kvemo Kartli, Levan Kharabaze, has been the Governor of Shida Kartli until today. He was at various times the head of police of Guria and Samtkhe-Javakheti regions, the deputy chief of police of Mtkheta-Mtianeti and Adjara, and also worked at various posts in the Tbilisi police.
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