**Georgia Tightens Travel Restrictions for Foreigners**
As the protests in Georgia continue, the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi has issued an advisory to its citizens warning them of potential issues when traveling to the country. The embassy is advising Poles to be aware of their social media activity and any involvement in ongoing protests, as these factors may lead to denial of entry into Georgia.
The advisory comes amid a growing number of cases where foreigners, including EU citizens, have been refused entry at Georgia’s border. This has been a persistent issue for over a year now, with foreign nationals such as journalists, activists, rights defenders, and politicians being turned away from the Georgian border under vague pretexts.
**Poland’s Warning**
The Polish Embassy’s statement highlights that Georgian authorities have the right to assess risk factors for entry of foreigners. The decision to refuse entry can also apply to holders of a valid Georgian residence permit. Furthermore, the embassy warns that participating in or allegedly being involved in demonstrations can result in heavy fines, and re-entry into Georgia may require immediate payment.
**Concerns Over New Laws**
The advisory from the Polish Embassy also comes against the backdrop of new laws aimed at tightening immigration controls. These proposed amendments allow for foreigners to be expelled from Georgia and barred from re-entering for administrative offenses such as petty hooliganism and disobedience to police. The Interior Ministry has implied that foreign participants in protests will be specific targets of these changes.
**EU Diplomat Barred**
Just last month, Simon Vanderbroucke, a member of the EU Delegation to Georgia, was denied entry at Tbilisi international airport. This marked the first reported case of an EU diplomat being refused entry into Georgia. Authorities attributed the incident to a “technical problem,” but many are concerned about the implications for foreigners traveling to the country.
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