Ruling party official announces stricter fines, easier expulsions for foreigners in Georgia

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the parliamentary majority discussed several legislative initiatives including a legislative package on international protection.

In his remarks, Mdinaradze noted that the new legislation introduces significant amendments to the Criminal Code and the Administrative Offenses Code, primarily aimed at tightening regulations for foreigners in Georgia.

Key changes include:

• New Criminal Penalty: The Criminal Code will be updated to include a new form of punishment: expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia and a ban on re-entry for a specified period.
• New Administrative Sanction: A similar new administrative penalty will be added to the Administrative Offenses Code, allowing for the expulsion of foreigners and prohibiting their re-entry into Georgia.
• Increased Fines: Fines for foreigners who violate the rules of stay in Georgia will be significantly increased.
• Simplified Expulsion Procedures: The process for expelling foreigners who are illegally present in the country will be considerably simplified.

Mdinaradze stated that these measures aim to streamline procedures and reinforce regulations regarding foreign nationals' presence in Georgia.