Georgian PM says fight against illegal migration should be further strengthened

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhdize on Wednesday said the fight against illegal migration was very important, highlighting the laws recently adopted by the Georgian Parliament in this regard.

Speaking in Parliament during an interpellation session, Kobakhdize noted that over the past 12 months, the Government expelled more illegal aliens than over the past 10 years, and underlined the goal to increase this number and to expel approximately 20 percent of foreign illegal migrants in 2026.

“Approximately 20,000 people are in Georgia illegally, although as a result of our active work, this figure will be more clear. We do not think that any significant changes will be made to the overall picture, although it is very important to organise the relevant databases and, even more importantly, to combat illegal migration. These were amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses. In addition, immigration control measures have been tightened, and the relevant legislative amendments have allowed us to tighten them”, the PM said.

“In 2025, over the past 12 months, we expelled more illegal aliens than over the past 10 years, that is, we have surpassed the statistics of the past 10 years, although this is not enough. According to our plan, the fight against illegal migration should be further strengthened, and by 2026 we think we will reach the four thousand mark, respectively, we will be able to expel approximately 20 percent of illegal alien migrants during the current year. This is quite realistic based on the changes that are being implemented in the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs”, he continued.

He further reviewed the statistics of citizenship of expelled illegal migrants.

“20.5 percent of the expelled persons are citizens of India, 12.9 percent - citizens of Turkey, 12percent - citizens of Iran, 7.5percent - citizens of China, 5.6percent - citizens of Russia”, he concluded.