Government Calls for Simplified Rules on Dual Citizenship

This week, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili called on Parliament to simplify and liberalize current regulations for granting dual citizenship.

On May 27, Diaspora Day, Margvelashvili commented on planned amendments to the Law on Citizenship at the Diaspora Forum event, saying, “The law on dual citizenship is being developed in the Parliament. I welcome the law be adopted by Parliament as soon as possible. I would like to clarify that the dual citizenship procedure is set, procedural processes are to be passed and it slows down the process. If there is a much more liberal approach to the issue, the dual citizenship will not require complex procedures. I will be glad for it and I will welcome prompt adoption of the law.”

The Diaspora Forum was dedicated to issues relevant for and about Georgians who have left the country, many of whom were in attendance at the event.

With the most recent round of constitutional reforms, the restriction on dual citizenship was lifted, but the current process to become a dual citizen is slow and clumsy. "I would be glad if the approach would be more liberal, and the procedures become simpler," the Georgian President reinterated.

Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament also supports the move, saying that Georgia must find a new mechanism through which Georgians living abroad can stay engaged in the legislative process of the country. "The Georgian Diaspora has very important significance for our country since they make a great contribution to our country’s economic development and to the success of the people’s diplomacy,” Kobakhidze said while speaking at the Diaspora Forum.

A draft law is currently being developed to address the issue. Kobakhidze also mentioned another draft law, which would propose funding Georgians, even without Georgian citizenship, to study at the university level in Georgia.

“This year, first time during the history of Georgian constitutionalism, the government has taken responsibility to ensure that Georgians living abroad keep ties with their homeland. We have constant relations with several of our diaspora organizations. Our major goal is for Georgia to become a country where each of us will be able to realize their talents and knowledge,” said Prime Ministry Giorgi Kvirikashvili, speaking at the Diaspora Forum.

Kvirikashvili also spoke about the ongoing programs from the Ministry of Diaspora aimed at developing diaspora relations, including the youth initiative Camp of the Future, Youth Ambassadors program being implemented in 16 countries, and several initiatives to teach Georgian language abroad.

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: Agenda.ge