06 December 2021

Georgia operates a dedicated immigration detention centre in Tbilisi called the Temporary Accommodation Centre. The facility opened in 2014 following negotiations for a visa-free regime with the European Union. An “Action Plan” developed as part of these negotiations provided that Georgia must have “adequate infrastructure (including detention centres)... to ensure… effective expulsion of illegally staying and/or transiting third country nationals.” The EU has funded various detention-related activities in the country concerning the management of such detention centres and detention-related workshops given by EU member states.
The Global Detention Project has been unable to obtain details on COVID-19 related measures taken to safeguard people in immigration custody. Responding to the Global Detention’s COVID-19 survey in July 2020, the Georgia office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that no particular measures had been taken to prevent the spread of infection or ensure the appropriate care of persons released from detention (see 23 July 2020 Georgia update on this platform). According to the UNHCR, in 2020, there were 1,780 refugees and 1,282 asylum-seekers, as well as 288,538 internally displaced persons in the country.
Furthermore, the country launched a national vaccination campaign in March 2021. It is unclear whether refugees, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, or stateless persons are included in the campaign. The EU is nonetheless supporting the country’s vaccination programme. In September 2021, the European Union and the WHO donated 300 medical refrigerators and a specialised vaccine-carrier vehicle to the Government of Georgia.
During its review for the third cycle of the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in April 2021, Georgia received several relevant recommendations, including: “put an end to overcrowding and poor conditions in detention centres (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) (para. 149.12)” and “ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (Honduras) (Senegal) (para. 148.4).”
As regards the country’s prisons, in March 2020, several measures were introduced to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the facilities. Each facility was to be disinfected regularly, newly arrived prisoners were to be placed in isolation for 21 days, prison staff checked for symptoms daily, and information concerning the virus provided to prisoners. On 9 June 2020, the Council of Europe donated protective equipment to Georgia’s prison system, including 6,500 face masks, 2,500 face shields, 500 litres of hand sanitiser, 5,000 disposable shoe covers, and 3,000 medical disposable head covers. In November 2020, a study conducted by the University of Lausanne for the Council of Europe concluded that, so far, there had been no COVID-19 cases detected among prisoners or staff members in all of Georgia’s prisons.
- The Transnational Institute, "Outsourcing Oppression: How Europe Externalises Migrant Detention Beyond Its Shorts," April 2021, https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/outsourcingoppression-report-tni.pdf
- UNHCR, “Refugee Data Finder: Georgia,” accessed on 3 December 2021, https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/download/?url=5Gs7eY
- M. Akkerman, “Outsourcing Oppression: How Europe Externalises Migrant Detention Beyond Its Shores,” Transnational Institute, Border Wars Briefing - April 2021, https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/outsourcingoppression-report-tni.pdf
- Human Rights Council, “Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review: Georgia,” 1 April 2021, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/47/15
- European Union, “EU and WHO Donate 300 Refrigerators to Support Georgia’s Vaccination Process,” 30 September 2021, https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/georgia/104889/eu-and-who-donate-300-refrigerators-support-georgia%E2%80%99s-vaccination-process_en
- Europris, “Prevention Measures in European Prisons Against COVID-19,” 27 March 2020, https://www.europris.org/special-penitentiary-service-of-georgia-ge/
- Agenda.ge, “CoE Supporting Georgian prison system to combat COVID-19 pandemic,” 9 June 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1804
- Agenda.ge, “EU Study: no COVID-19 cases detected among inmates, staff in Georgian prisons,” 11 November 2020, https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/3555
- RFERL, “Georgia Starts AstraZeneca Vaccine Drive Amid Safety Concern,” 15 March 2020, https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-covid-astrazeneca-vaccine-drive-safety-concerns/31151838.html
- Tbilsi Temporary Accommodation Centre (Georgia Ministry of Internal Affairs, https://police.ge/en/ministry/structure-and-offices/migratsia)
23 July 2020

Responding to the Global Detention Project’s Covid-19 survey, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Georgia office reported that the country applied a full moratorium on new immigration detention orders during the state of emergency that lasted two months (21 March to 22 May) due to Covid-19. IOM Georgia stated that they were aware of an Indian national being released from immigration detention as there was no prospect of returning him any time soon due to the restrictions on international mobility. imposed by the Georgian government. However, no particular measures are being taken to prevent the spread of infection and ensure the appropriate care of persons released from detention.
Additionally, IOM Georgia indicated that no migrants accommodated in the Temporary Accommodation Centre of the Migration Department had been tested for Covid-19 and that no regular testing was ongoing. Upon admission, migrants usually undergo a general medical examination, temperature check, and are asked if they suffer from any of Covid-19 common symptoms. During their stay, the Centre’s medical staff observe their overall health conditions. If a migrant has or develops any Covid-19 symptoms after the initial medical check by a doctor, they will be transported to a relevant medical facility, tested, and, if needed, will receive treatment outside the detention centre.
Forced returns have been temporarily suspended according to IOM Georgia. The organisation also reported that from the start of the pandemic, the government of Georgia imposed restrictions on all border crossings and that regular passenger movement remains suspended. Thermal screening upon arrival and mandatory 14 day quarantine or self-isolation procedures were put in place for all those entering Georgia. In order for Georgian nationals stranded abroad to return to Georgia during the crisis, the government organised evacuation charter flights from various countries.
The government has announced that it will open the country’s borders with only 5 countries (Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and that regular flights to and from those countries will be available from August onwards. In addition, the government decreed that any non-citizen who was legally residing in Georgia on 14 March and who since has not been able, for objective reasons, to leave the country, will be considered a legal resident until flight restrictions are lifted.
- International Organisation for Migration, Global Detention Project’s Covid-19 survey, 22 July 2020.
- Georgian Servicemen Inspects Cars and People at an Entrance to the Town of Marneuli, some 40 km from the capital of Tbilisi, on 23 March, (Zurab Kurtsikidze, EFE, "Georgia’s furious fight against COVID-19," Euractiv, 24 March 2020, https://www.euractiv.com/section/eastern-europe/news/georgias-furious-fight-against-covid-19/)
Last updated: October 2021
Georgia operates a dedicated immigration detention centre in Tbilisi called the Temporary Accommodation Centre. The facility opened in 2014 after the country began negotiating a visa-free regime with the European Union. An "Action Plan" developed as part of these negotiations provided that Georgia must have "adequate infrastructure (including detention centres) ... to ensure ... effective expulsion of illegally staying and/or transiting third country nationals." Since the opening of the centre, the country has received EU financing for various detention-related activities, including training sessions and workshops with detention officials from various European member states. (See: Transnational Institute, "OUTSOURCING OPPRESSION: How Europe externalises migrant detention beyond its shores," 2021, https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/outsourcingoppression-report-tni.pdf)
EXCERPT FROM:
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), “Report to the Georgian Government on the visit to Georgia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 10 to 21 September 2018,” Council of Europe, 10 May 2019, pp. 22-25. Available at: https://rm.coe.int/1680945eca
Establishments for foreign nationals deprived of their liberty under aliens legislation
1. Preliminary remarks
32. The CPT’s delegation carried out a first-time visit to Georgia’s only immigration detention facility (opened in 2014), the Temporary Accommodation Centre of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (hereafter, TAC or the Centre). Located in Varketili district of Tbilisi, the Centre had the capacity of 96 places (in three separate units – for adult men, adult women, and families with children31) and was accommodating, at the time of the visit, 18 detained foreign nationals including 16 adult men and two adult women (there were no children). None of them was an asylum seeker. The longest staying detainee had been at the Centre since 3 months, the average stay was said to be 1.5 to 2 months.
33. According to the 2014 Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons (the Aliens Act), a foreign national may be detained by the police and held at a TDI for a maximum of 48 hours. Prolongation of detention beyond this period requires a court decision and the foreign national must be immediately transferred to the TAC. The placement decision is for 3 months maximum, and may be prolonged by a court decision for the maximum of another 6 months. If a foreign national has not been deported within 9 months, he/she must be released from the TAC. It is noteworthy that, save in exceptional circumstances where it is justified by the need to protect, for a very short period of time, the person’s interests, detention of unaccompanied minors is prohibited (they are instead taken care of by child protection authorities and placed in foster families).
2. Ill-treatment
34. The delegation did not receive any allegations of ill-treatment by staff from the TAC, and most of the interviewed foreign nationals spoke positively about the staff (including custodial officers). Further, it appeared that conflicts between detained foreign nationals were rare and never of any serious nature. The overall atmosphere at the Centre was relaxed.
3. Conditions of detention
35. Material conditions at the TAC were generally very good. The accommodation was spacious (rooms for three to eight persons, measuring from some 50 to approximately 80 m2), well furnished, bright and had an efficient cooling/heating system and ventilation. Throughout the day, foreign nationals could move freely within their living units and had unlimited access to communal toilets, washrooms, showers and laundries with new washing machines. Hygiene items were provided free of charge and warm food served three times a day.
That said, some complaints were heard about the quality of the food (absence of fresh vegetables and fruit) and the impossibility to buy fresh food in the shop.36 The Georgian authorities are invited to verify the quality of the food offered to foreign nationals detained at the TAC and to increase the range of food items available for sale. Further, offering the detainees the possibility to cook their meals by themselves should be seriously considered.
36. As regards activities, each unit had a recreation area with sofas, chairs, tables, a TV set (with many foreign channels) and some books and board games. Further, during the day detainees had access to a large outdoor yard equipped for foot-, volley- and basketball (for at least 3 hours per day), and could play table tennis and use computers with access to the Internet.
Overall, the offer of activities could thus be considered adequate. However, the CPT invites the Georgian authorities to make more efforts to offer some organised activities (e.g. lectures, handicraft, art and cooking classes) to foreign nationals accommodated at the Centre for extended periods (up to several months).
4. Health care
37. The TAC employed two full-time doctors (one of whom was always present from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and a full-time psychologist. In case of emergency, one of the doctors could come to the Centre at night or an ambulance was called. Although this arrangement seemed to function well in practice, and none of the detained foreign nationals complained of any delays in access to a doctor,37 the Committee is of the view that it would be advisable to recruit nursing staff and organise a 24/7 health-care coverage at the TAC.
38. All newly-arrived foreign nationals were medically screened by the doctors, and injuries observed on the detainees were recorded and reported to the relevant authorities. That said, the recording was rather superficial and succinct. The CPT recommends that the same screening, recording and reporting procedures be applied at the TAC as those already in place at the TDIs with on-site health-care staff,38 and that the doctors (and in due course, the nurse) working at the Centre be provided with appropriate training in this respect.
5. Safeguards
39. Upon their arrival at the Centre, foreign nationals were given information (both orally and in writing, in a range of languages39) about their rights, including on the right of access to a lawyer (and about the house rules). Ex officio legal assistance was available, and indeed the delegation witnessed a visit by an ex officio lawyer to one of the detainees. Furthermore, interpretation services were provided if necessary (the Ministry of Internal Affairs had signed contracts with several interpreters), although only in the context of the ongoing legal procedure (not for daily life situations such as conversations with custodial and health-care staff); the Georgian authorities are invited to explore ways to extend the access to interpretation services at the TAC.
However, some of the detainees appeared ill-informed of the precise scope and content of their right of access to ex officio legal assistance (they thought it would only be available if they appealed the placement decision). The Committee invites the Georgian authorities to verify and make sure that foreign nationals detained at the TAC are duly and fully informed of the aforementioned right.
40. As for contact with the outside world, detained foreign nationals could make a free telephone call to their relatives upon arrival and could then use the office phone three times per week. Calls to lawyers and NGOs were not subjected to any limitations. Further, as already mentioned (see paragraph 36 above), detainees had access to computers and could communicate with their families and friends using messenger services and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Visits were also allowed (3 times a week) and took place in suitable open-type premises.
41. Detained foreign nationals were informed of available avenues of complaint (both internal and external) and could make use of confidential complaints boxes located in the corridors beyond the CCTV coverage.40 Further, the Centre received frequent visits by a range of bodies including the Public Defender/NPM and the relevant international41 and non-governmental organisations.
6. Other issues
42. The TAC employed specially trained custodial staff42 (there were at least five men and two women on each of the three shifts), as well as a social worker and (as already mentioned in paragraph 37 above) a psychologist. Regarding language skills, most of the staff spoke Russian and some could communicate in English or French; however, communication was a problematic issue, especially for the detainees coming from Asian and Arabic-speaking countries. The CPT invites the Georgian authorities to make further efforts to improve language skills of the staff working at the Centre.
43. As for discipline, the TAC possessed a punishment room43 which could be used for placements of up to 10 days (only for adult detainees) by decision of the Director of the Migration Department.44 The disciplinary procedure included an obligatory hearing (with interpretation if needed) and the provision of a written reasoned decision (with information on the right to appeal), a copy of which was to be given to the detainee.
However, there was no specific journal to record placements in the punishment room,45 and persons placed in it would have no access to outdoor exercise and to reading matter. The Committee recommends that steps be taken to remedy these deficiencies. The CPT would also like to be informed whether the disciplinary procedure includes the right for the detained person to call witnesses on their own behalf and to cross-examine evidence given against them.
Recruited from the police and deployed after having received specialised training on working with foreign nationals (e.g. inter-cultural communication and conflict resolution), including courses dispensed by Frontex. The room was clean, well lit and ventilated, measured some 10 m2 and was equipped with an ordinary bed (with a mattress, a pillow and a blanket) and a partially screened sanitary annexe comprising a toilet and a washbasin.
The room had never been used so far.
Copies of disciplinary decisions were put in detainees’ individual files and reports on each placement would be sent electronically to the Migration Department.