The News in Brief

Hungary Halts Fast-Track Worker Visas for Citizens of Georgia, Armenia, and the Philippines

Hungary is stopping issuing worker visas to citizens of Georgia, Armenia, and the Philippines as part of efforts to regulate the "inflow of guest workers," Hungarian government spokeswoman Vanda Szondi announced, according to a Reuters June 5 report. The measure took effect on Friday, June 5.

Citing Szondi, Reuters reports that the new government led by Peter Magyar of the Tisza party is tightening work opportunities for guest workers over what she said were "concerns they are pushing down local salaries." For this end, the government is amending a decree that previously allowed employment agencies to import workers from the three countries through a simplified procedure.

The report does not specify whether the workers from the three identified countries will still have employment opportunities in Hungary under any other procedure. However, foreign workers already residing in Hungary will still be able to apply for extensions of their existing permits, while applications submitted before the change of the rule will continue to be processed.

Hungary's move follows a similar policy change adopted by Poland. Since December 1, 2025, Georgian citizens have no longer been eligible for Poland's simplified employment procedure and must instead use the standard process, including obtaining a national D-type visa.

Polish authorities said at the time that the decision was influenced by several factors, including developments in Georgia's political environment, ongoing works within the European Union regarding potential restrictions on visa-free travel, and a decline in the number of declarations of employment and seasonal work permits issued compared with 2024.



MIA Detains Russian National Wanted by FBI at Tbilisi Airport on Sanctions Evasion Charges

Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced on June 5 that it has detained an internationally wanted individual at Tbilisi International Airport. The arrest was carried out by the Central Criminal Police Department and the General Prosecutor's Office in close coordination with the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Subsequent reports from Russian and Georgian media identified the detainee as Tatyana Kurashkevich, a Russian entrepreneur, international trade expert, and postgraduate student at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Diplomatic Academy. Kurashkevich had been placed on the INTERPOL wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities.

The enforcement operation was executed under a joint declaration signed between Georgian law enforcement and the U.S. Department of State. While the MIA did not publicly disclose the detainee's identity in its official statement and video release, it confirmed that the individual is wanted by the United States on charges of aiding and complicity in criminal activity, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering. Extradition procedures are actively underway.

Beka Nemsitsveradze, identified by Georgian broadcaster TV Pirveli as the defense lawyer for the detained individual, confirmed his client's Russian citizenship and stated that the U.S. investigation involves the import and export of sanctioned aviation parts. Nemsitsveradze noted that Kurashkevich arrived in Georgia purely for tourism and was entirely unaware of the active international search warrant against her.

The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from official advisory circles in Moscow. Eva Merkacheva, a member of Russia's Presidential Council for Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, confirmed the detainee's identity on her Telegram channel based on documents provided by Kurashkevich's husband.

Merkacheva specified that the charges are economic and center on sanctions evasion. She publicly appealed against the legal process, stating that Kurashkevich's extradition would constitute a violation of international law and expressing hope that Georgia would block the transfer.

In contrast, Georgian authorities emphasized the durability of their security alliance with Washington. The MIA released a statement highlighting its long-term partnership with American law enforcement agencies against organized and transborder crime.