Amendments are being made to the Criminal Code of Georgia. The goal of the amendments is to prevent Georgian citizens from illegal crossing of borders of foreign countries as well as their illegal stay in foreign countries. The reason for such an amendment is the growing number of Georgians seeking shelter increasing statistics of crimes committed by Georgians abroad, which caused criticism from the part of some European countries. “Recently, due to the growing number of Georgians seeking shelter or committing crime in foreign countries, criticism from the part of some EU states increased. Germany, as well as Sweden, openly stated in European structures and media that the trend of unconscientious use of visa-free travel by Georgians needs to be taken care of and it may well be that the issue of putting into force the suspension mechanism is considered.
Within the framework of consultancy with the Georgian governmental authorities, the above countries openly state that it would be appropriate for the Government of Georgia to take certain targeted measures to reduce the flow of citizens unconscientiously using the visa-free travel opportunity,” – reads the draft law explanatory note. Persons creating favorable conditions for illegal migration of a Georgian citizen to a foreign country will be criminally liable, namely: helping to illegally cross the border and/or supporting illegal stay in a foreign country and creation of favorable conditions for misuse by a Georgian citizen of the right to get shelter in a foreign country will lead to restriction of liberty from 3 to 6 years; in case of second offence, restriction of liberty from 5 to 8 years. Commitment of such an action by an organized group will lead restriction of liberty from 7 to 10 years.
