**Georgia Plans to Toughen Laws on Foreigners**
The Georgian government is preparing a new package of laws aimed at strengthening its criminal legislation against foreigners. The proposed changes are designed to give authorities more power to deal with crimes committed by non-citizens.
According to the draft law, if a foreigner commits a crime in Georgia, they could face expulsion from the country and a ban on re-entry for a specified period of time. This punishment can be imposed as either a primary or additional sentence, depending on the severity of the crime.
**New Punishments for Foreigners**
The proposed laws establish different terms for foreigners banned from entering Georgia depending on the category of crime. For less serious offenses, the ban would last between 2 to 10 years. However, for more serious crimes, such as violent offenses or those involving a threat to life or health, the ban could be up to 20 years.
**Laws Against Obstruction and Destruction**
The draft law also makes it a crime for foreigners to obstruct the execution of court decisions against them. Specifically, intentionally destroying travel documents or evading procedures to obtain a new document would result in expulsion from Georgia and a ban on re-entry for a specified period or imprisonment for up to 6 years.
**Aggravating Circumstances**
If a foreigner commits one of these acts repeatedly, with violence dangerous to life or health, or with the threat of such violence, it would be considered an aggravating circumstance. In this case, the punishment could include expulsion from Georgia and a ban on re-entry for a specified period or imprisonment for up to 9 years.
**Additional Crimes**
The proposed law also adds new crimes related to obstruction and destruction of documents to the existing list of offenses punishable by expulsion and a ban on re-entry.
**Next Steps**
The draft law has been submitted to parliamentary committees for consideration. Once reviewed, it will be put to a vote in Parliament before becoming law.
As Georgia continues to shape its laws, this proposed legislation reflects the country’s efforts to balance security concerns with human rights considerations.
While some might see these measures as necessary to maintain public safety, others might view them as overly harsh and discriminatory towards foreigners. The debate surrounding these proposals will likely continue as they move through the legislative process.
What do you think about Georgia’s plans to tighten laws on foreigners? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
