**Georgia to Make it Easier to Expel Foreign Protesters**
The Georgian Dream parliament is pushing for sweeping legislative changes that will make it simpler to expel foreigners and ban them from re-entering the country. These changes are specifically targeting foreigners who participate in anti-regime protests.
Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze presented the changes to the GD parliament on May 13. The legislative package aims to overhaul Georgia’s immigration control and tighten measures against foreigners involved in various administrative offenses. This includes petty hooliganism, disobeying police, violating rules on assembly and rallies, assaulting public officials, and violating travel rules.
According to Darakhvelidze, while fines and even administrative detentions have been imposed on foreign citizens found guilty of these offenses, there was no expulsion mechanism in place. He claimed that foreigners involved in destructive activities on Rustaveli Avenue had entered Georgia with “destructive goals.” The new measures will allow for the expulsion of these individuals and a ban on their re-entry for a certain period of time.
This move comes as anti-regime resistance has been ongoing in Georgia since November 2024, when the GD government changed the country’s foreign policy course by abandoning the EU accession path. Darakhvelidze noted that while police fines and arrests have reduced the number of foreign citizens participating in protests, their visas made it difficult for the ministry to expel them from Georgia.
**The Implications**
These legislative changes have significant implications for foreigners involved in anti-regime activities in Georgia. The ability to expel and ban individuals for a certain period of time will likely serve as a deterrent against participating in future protests. However, critics may argue that this move is an attempt by the GD government to suppress opposition voices.
In recent months, there have been reports of foreign nationals being involved in destructive activities on Rustaveli Avenue. According to MIA: Georgia, 96 foreign nationals were expelled from the country in April alone. The Daily Beat reported that 26 foreigners were expelled in June. These numbers suggest a growing trend of expulsions, which may be intensified by these new legislative changes.
**What’s Next?**
The GD parliament will continue to push for these legislative changes, which are aimed at tightening immigration control and protecting public order and security. However, the impact of these changes on anti-regime resistance in Georgia remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the ability to expel foreigners involved in destructive activities has become a key tool for the GD government in maintaining control.
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