October 31, Pozirk. Belarusian nationals’ savings amount to more than $120 million stored in Georgian banks, according to Pozirk‘s analysis of the Georgian National Bank’s data posted at bm.ge.
As of late September, Belarusians accounted for 4 percent of the 28.5 percent of non-resident foreigners’ savings at Georgian banks.
Georgia is one of the counties where Belarusians flee fearing politically-motivated reprisals at home yet its Belarusian community is shrinking. In early 2024, 11,362 Belarusians resided in Georgia, 15 percent fewer than in 2023. Based on numbers, every Belarusian has about $11,000 per person in savings on average.
Earlier this year, nine Belarusians applied for political asylum in Georgia. Over the last few months, Georgian authorities rejected applications from rights defender Raman Kiślak and opposition activist Maryna Zialonaja.
