Georgian Gov’t enforces strict penalties for citizens who join terrorist groups

Georgia is taking drastic action to impose severe punishments on citizens who leave the country and join international terrorist organisations.

Today the country’s Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani said any Georgian citizen who left the country for the purpose of joining a terrorism group and carrying out terrorist activities will be punished under a new law, currently being debated by officials.

Parliament was currently discussing the new bill that would prevent Georgian citizens from leaving the country if they intended to join an international terrorism group. Those who did so would face severe punishments.

It has been reported that a growing number of underage males from the Pankisi Valley have recently left the region to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"This is a very huge step for law enforcement agencies to prevent these people from leaving Georgia’s territory,” Tsulukiani said.

She said the proposed law would prohibit such people from leaving Georgian territory, while the Economy Ministry was actively working to make the region stronger so young males, particularly, wouldn’t want to leave the region.