At a plenary session of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze presented legislative amendments related to fictitious marriages between Georgian citizens and foreign nationals.
Darakhvelidze said that if one party to a fictitious marriage appears before an investigative body, confesses to the offence and cooperates with the investigation, they will be released from criminal liability. He added that the draft law also introduces a special grace period.
“There are two important changes in the Criminal Code. One concerns a fictitious marriage. If one of the parties appears before the investigative body, confesses and assists the investigation, they will be released from criminal liability. We have a similar provision on drugs and weapons. There is also a chance that if a person was misled and cooperates with the investigation, they will be released from liability. A grace period is also established until October 1, 2026, during which those in a fictitious marriage who declare it will be released from criminal liability,” Darakhvelidze said.
He also said a new category of residence permit for spouses of Georgian citizens is being introduced, which will not initially be permanent.
“The demand for this type of residence has tripled in the first quarter of 2026, which suggests the basis for obtaining it may in some cases be a fictitious marriage. Therefore, the package of amendments introduces a new category — residence of a spouse of a Georgian citizen — which will not be issued as permanent at the outset. It will be granted for one year, with the possibility of extension for two or more years,” he said.
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