Georgia deports foreign protesters
Photo: Georgia deports foreigners for participating in rallies (Getty Images)
Foreign nationals who participated in pro-Western protests in Georgia have started to be deported. They were accused of administrative violations, according to Georgia News.
According to Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, 91 foreign nationals were ordered to leave the country in November and December 2024. Over a quarter of them were participants in pro-European integration protests.
"Among the individuals for whom the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated deportation procedures are foreign nationals who participated in protests held in Tbilisi in November and December and were sentenced to various administrative penalties by the court — a total of 25 individuals," the statement read.
Of these 25 individuals, 10 have already left Georgia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not disclosed their nationalities.
Public organizations and media estimate that among the 450 people detained during the protests, over 20 were foreigners, most of whom were Russians.
Protests in Georgia
In October 2024, parliamentary elections were held in Georgia. According to the Central Election Commission, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party, which has ruled the country for over a decade, claimed victory. The opposition refused to recognize the election results.
The ruling party also announced the suspension of Georgia's integration into the European Union, sparking a wave of protests.
Additionally, on December 14, the Electoral College elected former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili, known for his anti-Western views, as the new president of Georgia. On December 29, he was sworn in, and the fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, left the presidential palace.
