In March-June of this year, 49,505 citizens of Russia and 15,237 citizens of Belarus stayed in Georgia. This is stated in a study prepared by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information [IDFI].
According to their own reports, 42,577 citizens of Russia still have not left the country from those who entered from February 25 to June 30, 2022.
In March-June of this year, compared to the same period of 2019, 16,476 more citizens of Russia and 11,531 more citizens of Belarus stayed in Georgia.
According to the organization, 3,036 citizens of Russia, 135 citizens of Ukraine, and only 41 citizens of Belarus were refused entry to Georgia during this period.
The study states that after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, the number of people wanting to leave Russia has increased significantly. On the one hand, the desire to avoid the sanctions imposed on Russia, and on the other hand, the strengthening of the persecution of citizens with different political view considered among the reasons for Russian citizens to leave their country.
IDFI deeply believes that the growing tendency of citizens of Russia and Belarus to stay in Georgia poses a challenge from the point of view of state security.
