The number of Georgian citizens applying for refugee status in the Federal Republic of Germany has increased, the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) told Report's European bureau.
In July, August, and September this year, a total of 1,147 Georgian citizens appealed for refugee status.
Most of the asylum seekers came to Germany as seasonal workers in March-April. Although their employment contracts expired, they did not want to return to their home country and applied to the federal government to stay in Germany. 10% of applicants are Azerbaijani.
In January 2019, the German Bundestag passed a law to include Georgia, as well as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in the "list of countries of safe origin" (sichere Herkunftsländer) for Germany. At the same time, Germany hopes to reduce the flow of refugees from these countries and simplify the deportation procedure for those who refuse asylum. Of the four countries, only Georgia has had a visa-free regime with the European Union since March 2017. According to German experts, along with Georgian tourists, criminals also have free access to Germany and intensify their activities. The German Interior Ministry believes that many Georgians abuse the visa-free regime as asylum seekers and commit a crime by staying in Germany for months, sometimes years.