Georgia detains 55 foreign nationals in immigration enforcement operation

Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Monday said 55 foreign nationals have been detained during a nationwide operation targeting illegal migration.

Officers from the Migration Department carried out special immigration control measures across the country, inspecting selected locations and a range of commercial and residential premises, the ministry press office said.

Those detained include citizens of Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan and Pakistan.

Officials said the individuals were found to be staying in Georgia in breach of requirements set out under the country’s law governing the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons.

The ministry said those detained have been transferred to the Migration Department’s temporary accommodation centre, where deportation procedures are now under way.