Due to the impending increase in taxes at the start of the next year, Turkish citizens are flocking to Georgia to buy new phones. According to tourism companies in Batman, a southeastern city in Turkey, around 300 people go to Batumi each week to but cheap phones and have them registered ahead of new year. People prefer Batumi as Georgia do not require passports for Turkish citizens.

“We thought of going to Iraq to buy new phone before, but we did not issue passports, because it is not possible to make an appointment for passport application due do queue,” Serdar Ulu said, one of the passengers.

Osman Arslan