Belgium Adds Georgia to Safe Countries List

BRUSSELS – Georgians will find it more difficult to seek asylum in Belgium after Brussels listed the small former Soviet republic as a safe country of origin.

Belgium updated its list of safe countries of August 3, saying the situation in Georgia remains stable and safe for its citizens.

Countries that are listed as safe areas imply that international protection is not needed. As a result, asylum seekers from these countries have a far more difficult task when presenting evidence which clearly proves that their country cannot be considered safe.

In January, the local government in the German state of Bavaria requested that Berlin place Georgia on its list of safe countries.

Georgia joins Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and India on Belgium’s list of safe countries.

By Tamar Svanidze
Edited By Nicholas Waller