Illegal migration facilitators “undermine Georgia’s development”, says Georgian Parliament Speaker

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that any individual involved in facilitating illegal migration was undermining Georgia’s overall development.

His comments came in response to the arrest of a United National Movement political council member on fraud charges. The case centers on the fraudulent acquisition of funds from a foreign citizen in exchange for securing a residency permit in Georgia.

“Generally, the fact to which the accusation refers, and the charge has been brought, concerns illegal migration, which on one hand, is a challenge in today's world, and on the other hand, this is precisely the issue that is crucial for visa-free travel with the European Union - that Georgia must not allow illegal migration”, the Speaker said.

“Therefore, consider anyone involved in facilitating illegal migration to be undermining Georgia's overall development”, he concluded.