Georgia explains its refusal to let in deported Ukrainians from Russia: Offers solution
Photo: Checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border in Verkhniy Lars (Getty Images)
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has denied entry to a group of Ukrainians currently in the transit zone at the Dariali border crossing point in Verkhniy Lars on the Russian border. Georgian law enforcement officials are suggesting that Ukraine should arrange for the return of its citizens from the crossing points, according to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Georgian Ministry claimed that the Ukrainians were denied entry allegedly due to national security concerns, stating that these individuals have a "criminal background" and "were repeatedly convicted" by Russian authorities.
However, the Ministry says it has proposed several mechanisms for Ukraine to repatriate its citizens. In particular, Georgia has offered "both air and sea" options for removing the Ukrainian nationals. Tbilisi also accused Ukraine of allegedly still "failing to make a decision."
“The Ukrainian side still refrains from returning them by sea and has not yet made a concrete decision. At the same time, joint consultations are underway on a mechanism for the safe return of these individuals to their homeland, including with the help of air transport," the Ministry said in a statement.
According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, around 80 Ukrainians are currently at the Dariali border crossing point after being deported by Russian security services. All of them are considered "convicted" by Russian authorities and have been denied entry into Georgia.
"All state agencies, within their respective mandates, are taking the necessary measures to ensure the timely implementation of the program to return these individuals from the neutral zone to their homeland and to protect the safety of our country's population," the Ministry assured.
Russian deportations to Georgia
On July 19, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha demanded that Russia stop using the deportation of Ukrainian citizens to Georgia as a weapon. Kyiv insists that the Russian side must deliver deported Ukrainians directly to the Ukrainian border.
Recently, Russian authorities have been actively deporting Ukrainians, convicted on fabricated charges, to Georgia. On July 11, political prisoner Andrii Kolomiiets, who had been unlawfully "sentenced" by an occupation court in Crimea to 10 years in prison, returned to Ukraine via Georgia and Moldova.
