French Photographer Says Georgia Revoked His Residence Permit in ‘Political Decision’

2026-03-30 - 09:11

Francis Prymerski, a French photographer who has lived and worked in Georgia for years, said his residence permit was revoked weeks after it was extended, calling the “sudden” move, made “without any explanation,” a “political decision.” Prymerski wrote about the revocation of his residence permit in a March 28 Facebook post, sharing the papers from Georgia’s Public Service Development Agency. According to the first paper, dated March 9, the agency extended his short-term residence permit for another year, until March 9, 2027. The second paper, dated March 25, annulled the earlier extension. The reason for the annulment is not stated. The photographer has one month to appeal the decision. Prymerski, whose social media page shows that he participates in and backs anti-government protests while actively criticizing the Georgian Dream government, believes the move is “political.” “This sudden change is not an administrative error. It is a political decision,” Prymerski wrote in another Facebook post. “What is happening to me today goes beyond a personal matter. It is a signal to everyone who supports, covers or exposes what is happening in Georgia,” he added. The case comes amid Georgian Dream’s tightening rules on immigrants. At the same time, a number of journalists and activists whose work was seen as critical of the ruling party have been denied entry to Georgia in recent years. Also Read: 23/02/2026 – Georgia Bans Foreigners Without Permanent Residence Permit From Courier, Taxi, Tour Guide Jobs 13/02/2026 – In New Clip, Kobakhidze Pledges to ‘Free’ Georgia From Illegal Migrants 02/12/2025 – Kobakhidze: 1,131 Illegal Migrants Expelled in 2025 26/08/2025 – Georgia’s Preliminary Census Data Suggests Tenfold Jump in Permanent Foreign Residents in Decade 03/10/2025 – Italian Journalist Giacomo Ferrara Denied Entry to Georgia