479 people refused entry to Georgia following France terror attacks

Almost 500 foreigners have been banned from entering Georgia in the past 10 days since tougher border controls came into play following the Paris terrorist attacks.

Between November 14 and 24, 479 foreign citizens were prevented from entering the country, announced the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a special statement today.  

In the days following the November 13 terrorist attacks in France, Georgia stepped up its border security at border crossing areas and checkpoints to prevent similar acts of terrorism occurring in the country and to hinder the attempts of people who wish to join various terrorist groups by travelling through Georgia. 

In the past 10 days, as well as the 479 citizen refusals to enter Georgia, 31 foreigners and one Georgian citizen were detained for illegally crossing the border, said the Ministry. 

The tougher rules meant Georgian border guards and security officials now carried out a more thorough check of incoming visitors to Georgia. The new tactic also saw officers ask travellers the intent of their visit to gain a better understanding of the purpose of their wish to enter Georgia.

Additional staff have been posted at border checkpoints to ensure better and higher quality control procedures were in place, which met international standards, said the Ministry.

Georgia’s efforts to enhance its border security were mentioned by the country’s head of the Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri in his November 18 statement, where he stressed Georgia had strengthened its control at checkpoints especially for people from African and Asian states to ensure Georgia was not being used as a transit country for terrorists.