Georgia detains 33 foreign nationals in illegal migration checks

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday said 33 foreign nationals had been detained during an immigration control operation targeting individuals staying in the country without legal grounds.

Officers from its Migration Department carried out the checks based on intelligence that indicated the presence of foreign citizens in Georgia who may be violating residency rules, the MIA press office said. 

Nationals from Ghana, Iraq, Pakistan, China, Yemen, Turkey, Turkmenistan, India and Bangladesh were among those detained. Authorities say they were found to be in breach of requirements under Georgia’s legislation on the legal status of foreign nationals and stateless persons.

The detained individuals have been placed in a temporary accommodation centre operated by the Migration Department, and procedures are under way for their removal from the country, the statement said.

Officials added that immigration control operations are conducted regularly to ensure effective enforcement of Georgia’s laws on the legal stay of foreigners.