Georgian Border Police receive 30 all-terrain vehicles from EU
The vehicles with a total value of €693,000 is part of a wider EU funded programme - EU4 Security, Accountability and Fight against Crime in Georgia (SAFE). Photo: eeas.europa.eu
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The European Union and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have donated 30 all-terrain vehicles to the Georgian Border Police to better combat irregular migration and cross-border crime.
This is the part of a larger package of 40 vehicles,10 of which were donated to Georgia back in November 2020.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has tweeted:
30 off-road vehicles were handed over to the #Border #Police of the MIA, under the coordination of the #IOM & with the financial assistance of the #EUhttps://t.co/T5Xx0Ni6MP pic.twitter.com/pXOiHh99aE
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) April 17, 2021
This transport aims to contribute to improving detection of illegal activities at the borders and enhance patrolling, as well as response capabilities of border guards.
Improving border security is an important area of cooperation between the EU and Georgia. The vehicles handed over today will contribute to making the Georgian authorities more effective in fighting irregular migration and crime”, Head of EU Delegation to Georgia, Carl Hartzell said.
He further noted that this is part of the EU's ‘wider support to ensure modern and efficient border management in Georgia’ as well as the overall ‘safety and security of Georgians’.
Carl Hartzell has tweeted:
Proud on behalf of EU w/ @IOM to hand over 30 new vehicles to Georgian Border Guards and proud to be their partner.
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) April 17, 2021
EU will continue to support Georgia in ensuring secure borders - Georgian security is European security.
➡️https://t.co/YdOu4WPv7W pic.twitter.com/FeWstgrZnW
IOM Georgia Chief of Mission Sanja Celebic Lukovac also stated that this donation follows up on ‘comprehensive procurement operations implemented by IOM with the support of the EU in the last decade, dedicated to strengthening Georgia’s border management capacities’.
Over the past years, the EU support to Georgia in the areas of migration and border management has been significant and this donation will be also followed by comprehensive procurement and training activities that will ensure strengthening of Georgia’s border protection capacities.
Georgian police have received 225 new cars to update their fleet. The interior ministry reported earlier today that the new cars will be given to police divisions in Tbilisi and the regions, as well as to departments of the patrol police.
The Georgian Defence Ministry has received the last five of 20 vehicles from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency which will be used at the NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre. Georgia received the first batch of vehicles in 2019.
The United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Proliferation Prevention Program has donated six troop carriers, two 6,000 liter fuel trucks and seven Suzuki off-road vehicles to the Georgian Border Police ‘to increase mobility to remote border sectors’.
Georgian border guards have been provided with 20 modern Argo all-terrain vehicles (ATV) thanks to financial support from the US Defense and Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).
Ruling Georgian Dream party MPs have proposed a bill to toughen the punishment for petty hooliganism and disobedience to police.
Border guards in north-eastern Georgia's Omalo village were on Saturday visited by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Government members as part of the annual Mountain Week celebrations, with the officials also inspecting a new police station in the Tusheti region.
The Border Police of the Georgian Interior Ministry on Friday began to install warning signs near Georgian borders to inform individuals and companies over possible breaches of law and prevent violations subject to administrative punishment by the domestic legislation.
Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Tuesday told the Parliament the granting of the NATO Operational Partner status to the country’s Border Police units had been a “major achievement” of the past year.
The Georgian Border Police on Wednesday confirmed an incident involving a helicopter of the body in the north of the country, following a social media video earlier during the day that appeared to show the pilot escape a crash in the aircraft on Mount Kazbegi.
The Georgian Border Police has received a donation of off-road vehicles from the United Nations International Organisation for Migration, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Tuesday.