Asylum-seeker warning

A Church minister leading the campaign to prevent the deportation of a ten-year-old orphan seeking asylum in Glasgow has warned he would be “under threat” if he was returned to his native Georgia.

Church of Scotland minister Reverend Brian Casey launched a petition to help keep Giorgi Kakava in Scotland on Thursday, with more than 50,000 people having signed it in the last three days. Giorgi was three when he fled Georgia with his mother Sopiobaikhadze,aftershediscovered his father - who later died - owed money to gangsters there.

Rev Casey, of Springburn Parish Church, said: “If he was returned to Georgia against his will, he would be under threat.” A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and every case is assessed on its individual merits.”