Tbilisi steps up immigration control with expulsion of dozens of foreigners

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has announced the expulsion of 33 foreign nationals as part of a coordinated operation aimed at curbing illegal migration.

The effort was conducted in close coordination with the Ministry’s Migration Department and other relevant units, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

“In close coordination with the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and relevant units of the Ministry, as part of the complex measures carried out in recent days, 33 foreign citizens were expelled from Georgia,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports.

The agency noted that while some individuals departed voluntarily, others were forcibly removed. All of the expelled individuals have been banned from re-entering the country.

“In accordance with the legislation, the expelled persons were banned from entering the country,” the statement continued.

The list of expelled individuals includes citizens from a range of countries: India, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Pakistan, China, Iran, Bangladesh, Iraq, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.

“The Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is the body responsible for combating illegal migration within the country. One of its competencies is to identify foreign citizens who are in Georgia without a legal basis and to carry out their expulsion from Georgia,” the information says.

This latest enforcement action is part of Georgia’s broader initiative to strengthen immigration controls and uphold public security. The Ministry emphasized that all expulsions were conducted in accordance with Georgian law, which permits removal of foreign nationals who lack legal grounds for staying in the country or pose risks to state security and public order.

The authorities have not disclosed detailed information regarding the individual cases but reiterated their commitment to legal procedure and national security.

This development follows a previous wave of removals, with 96 foreign nationals expelled from Georgia in April alone. The continued enforcement signals Georgia's resolve to manage immigration in line with its legal framework and international obligations.

By Vafa Guliyeva