Church of Scotland calls for halt on deportation of an orphan who arrived in Scotland aged 3
Written by Sunny Unachi on 17th March 2021
Giorgi Kakava, 13, was three when he fled to Scotland from Georgia with his mother Sopio Baikhadze, who died in 2018.
He was granted permission to stay in the UK along with his grandmother and legal guardian, Ketino Baikhadze, in July 2018 after the Church of Scotland launched a campaign. However, their residence permits expired in December. He was granted permission to stay in the UK along with his grandmother and legal guardian, Ketino Baikhadze, in July 2018 after the Church of Scotland launched a campaign. However, their residence permits expired in December. Rev Brian Casey, minister of Springburn Parish Church in Glasgow, said it is a “scandal and a moral outrage” that Giorgi (pictured above) is still living in uncertainty and faces being deported to Georgia.
An immigration lawyer is preparing a new residence application for both Giorgi and his 62-year-old grandmother, and more than 90,000 people have signed a petition calling for the teenager to be allowed to stay in Glasgow.
Mr Casey said: “This is a human rights issue and I hope people will sign the petition and join me in
urging Mr Patel to look at this case with compassion, decency and common sense.
“After Giorgi’s mother died, the local community rallied around him and the outpouring of love and concern was overwhelming.
“Despite having a very tough start to life, he has grown into a fine young man and I have been so inspired by his progress.
