Prepared by Messenger Staff
Poland Tightens Entry Rules for Georgian Workers
Poland has tightened entry rules for citizens of Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela seeking to work in the country, while visa-free travel for tourism and other short-term purposes remains unchanged.
The new regulation, signed by Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on August 10, took effect on August 15 and applies specifically to people entering Poland for employment.
People from the three countries who entered Poland for work before August 15 remain subject to the previous rules.
The Polish government said the changes were introduced because the visa-free regime was being used for employment without the required legal permits. Officials cited concerns including illegal work and overstaying, the growth of the shadow economy, worker exploitation and human trafficking.
Polish authorities also classify Georgia, Colombia and Venezuela as countries with a high risk of migration.
Georgia Arrests U.S.-Uzbek Citizen Wanted in U.S. Terrorism Case
Georgia's Interior Ministry said on August 18 that it had arrested a U.S. and Uzbek citizen wanted by U.S. authorities on terrorism-related charges following "close bilateral coordination" with the FBI.
"The man was wanted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, providing material support, and attempting to provide such support," the ministry said.
The suspect was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport after arriving from an unspecified country. The ministry said extradition proceedings are now underway.
According to U.S. authorities, the man allegedly formed a group in the United States to support a foreign terrorist organization and ran a financial network for that purpose. The group is accused of providing material, logistical and financial support to terrorist organizations operating in Syria, including Islamic State.
The ministry also said the suspect allegedly encouraged people to travel to Syria to fight and helped facilitate their travel.
