July 13, Pozirk. A Belarusian family living in Georgia has appealed to the Constitutional Court in Tbilisi, arguing that recently adopted asylum provisions are discriminatory.
Paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article 32 of the Law on International Protection allow Georgian authorities to immediately expel asylum seekers whose applications are rejected under a fast-track procedure. The provisions also deny them free legal assistance and an exemption from court fees when appealing the decision.
The family, whose identities are not disclosed for their protection, is asking the court to declare the provisions unconstitutional, arguing that they violate applicants’ rights to a fair trial and to seek asylum, said Raman Kislak, a Belarusian human rights defender based in Georgia.
The family fled Belarus fearing politically motivated persecution but had its asylum application rejected by the Georgian authorities. It has appealed the decision to the Tbilisi City Court.
Under the new law, the Migration Department can detain and deport applicants immediately after their claims are rejected under the fast-track procedure. Such cases have already occurred, Kislak said.
Since 2019, Georgia has rejected 80 asylum applications filed by Belarusians without granting protection to a single applicant.
