THE grandmother of a 10-year-old Georgian boy orphaned in Scotland has handed a petition signed by more than 60,000 people into the Home Office in Glasgow.
Giorgi Kakava and his widowed mum Sophie fled Georgia seven years ago following threats from gangland figures there, but she died in February before their asylum application could be processed.
READ MORE: Calls for ‘arrogant’ David Mundell to resign as Scotland Secretary
The youngster, who only speaks English, is being looked after by his grandmother Ketino Baikhadze, but both fear deportation if their new application for asylum is unsuccessful.
Rev Brian Casey, minister of Springburn Parish Church, has led the campaign to allow the pair to stay, and accompanied Giorgi’s grandmother to hand over the petition.
It came as Glasgow North East MP Paul Sweeney called on the Prime Minster to guarantee asylum for the boy, urging Theresa May during Prime Minister’s Questions: “Will the Prime Minister promise today that he will not, under any circumstances, be torn from his school friends in Glasgow and sent to a country that is entirely foreign to him?”
READ MORE: Poll reveals HUGE support among Scots for Holyrood to control key issues
She said it was right that the case be looked at properly, “and that is what I will ask the Home Office to do”.
Sweeney added: “This case demonstrates the human cost of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ policy – broken families, broken friendships and broken lives.
“It is unthinkable that Giorgi could face deportation and I hope that my intervention forces the Home Office to see sense.”
Casey said he was pleased that May had given an assurance that the case would be examined.
Of the petition, he said: “The petition reflects strong public opinion that Giorgi is, by all intents and purposes, a ‘Scottish’ boy and should not be deported to a foreign country he doesn’t know.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel