30 off-road vehicles were handed over to the Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under the coordination of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with the financial assistance of the European Union.

The vehicle handover ceremony was held at the parade ground of the “Red Bridge” Division of the Land Border Defense Department of the Border Police. The EU Ambassador to Georgia - Carl Hartzell, and IOM Georgia Chief of Mission-Sanja Celebic Lukovac, were hosted by the Deputy Minister - Giorgi Butkhuzi, and the Head of the MIA Border Police, Colonel Nikoloz Sharadze.

Vehicles worth more than GEL3.3 million will ensure significant improvement in trans-border crime prevention, as well as facilitate timely and effective response to border incidents.

Within the framework of the event, the EU and IOM representatives visited the border infrastructure and received information regarding the operation of the electronic surveillance system. The delegation also paid a visit to the Red Bridge border checkpoint to learn about passenger flow management and inspection procedures on the spot.

IOM has upgraded vehicles in close cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs as part of the project "EU4 for Security, Accountability and Fight Against Crime in Georgia (SAFE) – Integrated Border Management (SAFE IBM)". Under the project, a total of 40 off-road vehicles and communication equipment were handed over to the MIA Border Police.

The EU actively continues to support the integrated border management process in Georgia, which implies further development and modernization of border management systems. IOM, in cooperation with the MIA Border Police and under EU funding, plans to implement a number of important projects in the future, including the establishment of electronic surveillance systems in the border sectors and transmission of four rapid response patrol boats for the Coast Guard.