COVID-19 Faces of Migration - Story of Bahram (age 52), migrant from Iran, living in Tbilisi

Bahram, 52, arrived in Georgia from Iran in 2011 with his wife and daughter. He is a businessman who owns a small car oil factory in Rustavi and imports lubricants from Iran. As a wholesaler, he cooperates with many companies in Georgia.

Bahram speaks Georgian and knows Azerbaijani, Turkish, Arabic, Russian and English. He says that the career of a professional athlete has helped him learn languages. For 15 years Bahram was a badminton player who took part in international competitions and received the qualification of a professional coach. Bahram still devotes a small amount of time to this sport. Sometimes he plays at the location of the Georgian Badminton Federation in Avlabari.

For Bahram, a top priority when launching commercial ventures is the business climate. That is why he opted for Georgia, which offers clear rules and legislation for doing business and paying taxes. Bahram says if he had stayed in Iran, he might have made twice as much profit, but the business environment in Georgia is much more transparent and attractive. 

Another reason for choosing Georgia is that it is a safe country. Bahram has no worries neither for himself nor for his family members when going outside. They all feel comfortable in Tbilisi. His daughter even plans to enroll in one of the universities in Tbilisi this year.

Navigating university admission process has been quite challenging. However this has not been the only issue that Bahram's family faced in 2020. Bahram has encountered problems trying to extend his residence permit. Restrictions, which followed the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, forced Bahram to close his enterprise, which employed four Georgian and two Iranian citizens. Moreover, imports of all kinds of goods from Iran, except for food products, and fruits and vegetables, were also suspended.

Although the year of 2020 has been very difficult for Bahram, he has no plans to leave Georgia. He is very hopeful that the borders will open soon and the international trade between the countries will be fully restored to the pre-crisis volume. Bahram believes that once all restrictions are lifted, he will be able to reopen his enterprise in Rustavi.

The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis. The threat remains the virus: not people, not migrants, not stranded, or displaced persons. The pandemic is borderless; people are affected regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, or status.

Migrants are not inherently more vulnerable to, or at heightened risk of, contracting infectious diseases. Rather, it is the conditions in which they migrate, live, or work that influence or compound health risks, including access to health services.

As an immediate impact, travel restrictions and border closures have left thousands of migrants stranded around the world, from labourers to international students, in need of assistance and in often precarious situations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken to the core international trade and travel. This is not limited to migrant workers but also affects tourists, businesspersons, students, cross-border trade, as well as free movement and regional integration regimes. The closure of borders has widespread implications, including for future migration dynamics. Where and when travel and mobility resume, additional health requirements will be put in place required from the origin, and including transit and destination countries.

Globally IOM is ensuring full inclusion and social cohesion of migrants and societies through evidence-based public discourse, communication and information campaigns to dispel fears and misconceptions.

This pandemic has revealed how none will be safe until all are safe.  And this requires a shared and collective interest in the safety and well-being of all.
 

Photo by Eric Gourlan

Interview by NGO Rights Georgia