Georgia’s demographic condition and trends require serious attention, yet speculative approaches predominate, prompting an adequate reaction, Irakli Kobakhidze, the ruling Georgian Dream Chair, wrote in a Facebook post.

According to Kobakhidze, when an economically strong country makes the visa procedure easier for an economically poorer one, it increases population outflow.

“After joining the European Union and enacting visa-free travel, Lithuania’s population fell by 600,000, from 3.4 million to 2.8 million, while Latvia’s population fell by 400,000, from 2.3 million to 1.9 million. At the same time, the great majority of Lithuanians and Latvians who migrated were young people. In this regard, Georgia has the best stats. For example, with the introduction of the visa-free travel regime with the European Union, the negative migration balance in 2018–21 was just 29 thousand, implying that only 29 thousand more individuals left the country than arrived in four years,” he stated.

According to Kobakhidze, the United States has a strict visa policy for Georgian citizens, which is also favourable.

“In 2021, the US granted 71% of Russian visa applications but only 37% of Georgian applications. Of course, this circumstance causes significant problems for Georgians, pushing some to take risks and go to the United States via Mexico. On the other hand, the strict visa policy severely impedes immigration from Georgia to the United States, which has a good effect,” he continued.