The Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee on Monday discussed the Draft Criminal Code establishing criminal liability for illegal crossing of the State Border, as elucidated by the Deputy Interior Minister, Alexander Darakhvelidze.

“Criminal liability shall be imposed on the facts of the preparation for the less grave crimes, such as: illegal crossing of the State Border (and illegal transportation of migrants or facilitation of the conditions therefor for residing in Georgia in violation of the legal norms),” Darakhvelidze noted.

He went on to explain that if the final decision on international protection stipulates that a foreign citizen or a stateless person needs no protection, he/she shall not be exempted from criminal liability. The investigative body shall enjoy the authority to commence the investigation upon the receipt of information about the preparation for the hereof crime.

According to the Parliament press statement, amendment envisages the penalty as one of the sanctions in the amount of at least 2000 GEL; the upper ceiling of the penalty is not established since it shall be determined by the judge according to the gravity of the crime and the financial state of the convict, which shall be identified by his/her property, incomes and other circumstances.

The Draft envisages detention as one of the types of penalties.