At an event hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the EU together with project implementer International Organization for Migration (IOM) have donated 80 pieces of advanced border management equipment to the MIA. This included border control and surveillance cameras, enabling border guards at the green borders of Georgia to detect in live mode illicit movement and take instant measures to prevent illegal border crossing. These wireless cameras will operate as part of a network of surveillance systems installed along the green border. When detecting motion, a picture or video is immediately taken and transmitted to a base receiver. The camera and battery pack are housed in watertight, weatherproof enclosures for reliable outdoor operation. The cameras are powered with rechargeable batteries and can take thousands of pictures on a single charge.  These instruments are part of an EU funded support programme which includes equipment valued at EUR 10 million (GEL 34 Million) to Georgian authorities for use in areas of migration and border management. Border surveillance capacities of the MIA Border Police have been upgraded over the past years with EU support, to the extent that key stretches of the green border in Georgia possess sophisticated equipment that allows MIA officials to detect illicit movement of people and livestock across the border.

“Improving border security is an area of close cooperation between the EU and Georgia and the EU has consistently supported it over the last years. The equipment handed over today will further enable Georgian authorities to fight irregular migration and crime even more effectively. This is part of the EU's wider support to ensure modern and efficient management of borders in Georgia and the safety and security of Georgians”, said Catalin Gherman, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Georgia.

 For further information contact:

• Tamriko Mikadze, Press and Information Officer, Delegation of the European Union, Tamriko.Mikadze@eeas.europa.eu
• Ana Kakushadze, Media and Communications Officer, IOM, akakushadze@iom.int

 Please also visit the IOM website www.informedmigration.ge.