From 1 October, Georgia will be added to the “Safe country” list in Switzerland. The respect of human rights, political stability, healthcare system and evaluations of EU, UNHCR and other international organizations represent the main criteria for recognition of a country as being safe.

Following the decision, accelerated procedure will be used for consideration of asylum applications filed by Georgian citizens. After recognizing Georgia as being a safe country, return of Georgian citizens to their homeland will become reasonable.

Aside from Switzerland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, France, Lichtenstein, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Estonia, Denmark, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have recognized Georgia as a safe country.

According to Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the number of asylum seekers from Georgia to Switzerland, including Europe, increased since autumn of 2017 and it is directly linked with visa liberalization. In this regard Georgia was in fifth place after Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria and Turkey. There were a total of 873 applications, which is 30 percent more than in 2017. The decision of the Swiss Federal Council to put Georgia on the “safe country” list shows that the Swiss government is taking all necessary measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers who do not have sufficient grounds to live in the country.