GEORGIA'S IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION CHANGES MADE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF RAPPROCHEMENT WITH EU - EXPERT
12:30 / 07.11.2014
Within the framework of the migration legislation amendments in
Georgia the visa regime is also being changed raising concerns among
the foreigners and among the Javakhq Armenians as well.
According to the law that entered from September 1, 2014, the citizens
of the countries for which the visa free regime remains, have right
to stay in Georgia just 90 days.
The thing is that Javakhq Armenians started getting dual citizenship
from 2000 and some part rejected the Georgian citizenship to be able
to leave for Russia for outgoing work. According to the new law,
these people have to apply to corresponding bodies after staying more
than for 90 days.
Nyut.am spoke with the expert Jonnie Melikyan over the issue.
- Mr Melikyan, how the necessity of making migration changes arose
in Georgia?
- This process in Georgia started within the frameworks of facilitation
of visa regime with the EU. As far as Georgia sees itself as member
of the EU it wants the visa regime with the EU countries be lifted. EU
citizens may stay in Georgia without visa for 90 days.
Georgia wants to have the same conditions for its citizens which
though today is not real but the process has already launched.
Previously very liberal system acted in Georgia, it had visa free
regime with more than 180 countries. Today, as a result of the new
migration policy the number of countries with visa free regime reduces
and the time for foreign citizens to stay in Georgia has been reduced.
In parallel to these changes there is an opportunity to get asylum
card.
- In that case what the Javakhq Armenians are concerned with?
- There are some difficulties connected with the asylum card but
it does not relate to the Javakhq Armenians, it relates to all the
foreign citizens. The issue is being legislatively literate. When in
Armenia a dual citizenship is being given to a mentioned person, there
is a point in the contract which informs that Georgia does not have
dual citizenship agreement with Armenia which means that the person
receiving Armenian citizenship must be ready to defy the Georgian one.
The two countries must regulate their legislative norms in a way to
solve the issue. Georgia's legislation gives right its citizens to
have citizenship of another country as well but with condition that
he/she gets the Georgian one last. It appeared that the most right
thing is to refuse the Georgian citizenship, get the Armenian one,
and then again apply for getting the Georgian one. But it is a long
process and is not convenient for those leaving for outgoing work,
that is why they were getting Armenia's citizenship and departing
for Russia.
Nyut.am
12:30 / 07.11.2014
Within the framework of the migration legislation amendments in
Georgia the visa regime is also being changed raising concerns among
the foreigners and among the Javakhq Armenians as well.
According to the law that entered from September 1, 2014, the citizens
of the countries for which the visa free regime remains, have right
to stay in Georgia just 90 days.
The thing is that Javakhq Armenians started getting dual citizenship
from 2000 and some part rejected the Georgian citizenship to be able
to leave for Russia for outgoing work. According to the new law,
these people have to apply to corresponding bodies after staying more
than for 90 days.
Nyut.am spoke with the expert Jonnie Melikyan over the issue.
- Mr Melikyan, how the necessity of making migration changes arose
in Georgia?
- This process in Georgia started within the frameworks of facilitation
of visa regime with the EU. As far as Georgia sees itself as member
of the EU it wants the visa regime with the EU countries be lifted. EU
citizens may stay in Georgia without visa for 90 days.
Georgia wants to have the same conditions for its citizens which
though today is not real but the process has already launched.
Previously very liberal system acted in Georgia, it had visa free
regime with more than 180 countries. Today, as a result of the new
migration policy the number of countries with visa free regime reduces
and the time for foreign citizens to stay in Georgia has been reduced.
In parallel to these changes there is an opportunity to get asylum
card.
- In that case what the Javakhq Armenians are concerned with?
- There are some difficulties connected with the asylum card but
it does not relate to the Javakhq Armenians, it relates to all the
foreign citizens. The issue is being legislatively literate. When in
Armenia a dual citizenship is being given to a mentioned person, there
is a point in the contract which informs that Georgia does not have
dual citizenship agreement with Armenia which means that the person
receiving Armenian citizenship must be ready to defy the Georgian one.
The two countries must regulate their legislative norms in a way to
solve the issue. Georgia's legislation gives right its citizens to
have citizenship of another country as well but with condition that
he/she gets the Georgian one last. It appeared that the most right
thing is to refuse the Georgian citizenship, get the Armenian one,
and then again apply for getting the Georgian one. But it is a long
process and is not convenient for those leaving for outgoing work,
that is why they were getting Armenia's citizenship and departing
for Russia.
Nyut.am