68 Georgians Expelled from 4 European Countries

68 Georgians were deported from Germany, Iceland, Switzerland and Belgium on May 9, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced.

“The flights were organized jointly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, German Federal Police and European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontier,” the MIA stated.

A Dusseldorf-Tbilisi charter flight returned to Georgia those citizens who had not complied with the stay or living regulations of the abovementioned countries.

According to Irma Tsiramua, an observer of the Monitoring Service of Frontex, among the deported there were persons who had asked for the asylum in the European countries. However, due to the fact that Georgia is on the list of safe countries, these people were refused entry and turned back.

“Economic hardship and medical necessities are the main reasons the Georgians name while applying for asylum in the European states,” she added.

On March 21, 50 Georgians were deported from Germany for violating the visa-free rules and having stayed in the country longer than the permitted 90 days in any 180 day period.

Germany earlier deported 65 Georgians on February 21.

By Thea Morrison

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