The FINANCIAL — In total 170 persons of foreign citizenship became the victims of crimes committed in Georgia during January-June 2015. The number has decreased from 208 from the previous year’s data. Citizens of 31 different countries became victims of crime in Georgia during the reporting period. Out of them Russian citizens top the list of the victims, numbering 35. With 63, Turks are the leading nationality among foreign citizens responsible for committing a crime in Georgia.
The number of affected foreign citizens per 100,000 visitors in Georgia during January-June 2015 is 7.3. The figure was 9.3 during the same period of the prior year. According to the latest data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, with 53 people, the Georgian capital Tbilisi is the top region in terms of having the highest number of foreign victims. It is followed by Adjara, with 51 people. The lowest rate has been shown in Shida Kartli, numbering 3. The highest share of affected foreigners for every 100,000 visitors is shown in Tbilisi – numbering 2.3. The Adjara region makes up 2.2; while Shida Kartli has the lowest number – 0.1.
With 35 victims of crime, Russian citizens lead the least of the foreign nationality most affected by crime in Georgia. They are followed by the citizens of: Turkey – with 28; Azerbaijan – 18; China – 12; Iraq – 10; Ukraine – 8; Uzbekistan – 8; the USA – 7; Iran – 7; Armenia – 6; Nigeria – 5; Germany – 3; Spain, Israel, the UK, and India – 2 each; and Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Greece, Thailand, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Switzerland – 1 per country.
Cases where grave crimes were committed against foreigners included: fraud (10 cases); despoiling (11); theft (51); trafficking (1); and swindling (8).
With 67% (or 114 persons), males were the main victims of crime in Georgia. The average age of foreign victims, both male and female, varied from 25 to 44. The majority (or 80 persons to be exact) of foreign victims were unemployed. 67 persons were employed in the private sector. The lowest share (8 people only) were working in the public sector. In terms of education, it appears that foreigners with no education are less ‘attractive’ to criminals. Only 2 people with no education have been affected in Georgia during the first six months of the current year. The major share of victims is made up by foreigners with secondary education, totalling 68 people.
Since 2012 (including the first half of 2015), with 158 citizens Turkey has been the leading country by number of citizens affected in Georgia. It is followed by Russia – with 137; Azerbaijan – 89; Uzbekistan – 41; Iran – 46; Armenia – 46; the USA – 30; Nigeria – 24; India – 21; and Bangladesh – 13.
Turks, Russians and Azerbaijanis top the list of foreigners committing crimes in Georgia during the first six months of 2015. In total 244 foreign citizens were convicted of having committed a criminal act in Georgia during the reporting period. The number is 31 people less than during the same period of the previous year. Citizens of 29 different countries were accused and found guilty of criminal acts in Georgia.
In total 197 people (or 80.7%) were males out of all the criminals with foreign citizenship. 46 people (or 18.9%) were females. The average age of the foreign criminals was 25-44. Notably, there were two persons aged 17 who were convicted of criminal acts in Georgia.
In terms of academic background, foreigners found guilty of criminality who have secondary education make up the considerable majority compared to those that don’t. They numbered 125. Only 3 people had no education.
Regarding employment status, the main share (or 172 people) were unemployed. Only three of them were students.
With 79 people, Adjara is the top place for crimes committed by foreigners in Georgia. It is followed by Tbilisi – with 29 people. Guria takes last place, with only one person.
The share of foreign citizens found guilty of criminal acts in Georgia per 100,000 visitors totalled 10.5 during January-June 2015. The number was 12.2 during the same period of 2014.
The most common offenses with the largest numbers of criminals holding foreign citizenship are as follows: the purchase, saving, carrying, manufacturing, shipping or selling of firearms (57 cases); theft (33 cases); fraud (9 cases); assault by beating (23 persons); violation of vehicle maintenance rules (6 cases) and robbery (2 cases); illegal border crossing (28 cases); falsification of documents (12 cases); drug trafficking (17 cases); and the purchase, possession or sale of drugs (33 cases).
During the reporting period there were 5 cases of crimes committed by foreign citizens against other foreign citizens. Turks and Uzbeks are the dominant nationality in such cases.
63 Turks were accused and found guilty of an act of crime in Georgia during the first six months of the current year. Turkey is followed by Armenia – with 39; Russia – 39; Azerbaijan – 37; Uzbekistan – 13; Iran – 7; Israel – 6; China – 6; Iraq – 5; Ukraine – 4; the USA – 2; Bangladesh, Bulgaria, India, Nigeria and Greece – 2 each per country; and the UAE, New Zealand, Belarus, the UK, Egypt, Estonia, Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Pakistan, Poland and France – 1 per country.
Since 2012, Turkey has been leading the list of the top ten countries whose citizens have committed crimes in Georgia. From 2012 (including the first half of 2015) the number of cases of a crime committed by Turks in Georgia has totalled 254. It is followed by those from Russia – 138 cases; Azerbaijan – 123; Armenia – 117; Iran – 57; Bangladesh – 21; India – 15; Uzbekistan – 35; Ukraine – 21; and Nigeria – 13.
According to the data of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, Georgia hosted 3,922,376 international visitors during the first eight months of 2015. The number is 219,699 (or 6%) more than the figure from the same period of the previous year. With a total of 944,029 visitors to Georgia, Armenians make up the majority of foreign travellers in Georgia. They are followed by Azerbaijanis, Turks and Russians.
Discussion about this post