TBILISI, DFWatch–A diplomatic and humanitarian standoff is developing at the Dariali border crossing between Georgia and Russia, where approximately 80 individuals are stranded in a neutral zone between the two countries.
According to Ukrinform, a Ukrainian state news outlet, the group was “deported” by Russian authorities in what has been described as a form of “weaponized deportation,” implying a deliberate effort by Moscow to offload unwanted individuals as part of a broader hybrid strategy targeting Georgia and Ukraine.
However, Georgian authorities give a somewhat different account. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement that the individuals in question arrived at the Georgian border without valid documents, with some carrying forged identity papers. Georgian officials say many of them have criminal records, including convictions for serious offenses such as murder, rape, and drug trafficking.
Deputy Head of Border Control at the Dariali checkpoint Luka Paatashvili told Rezonansi that allowing these individuals to enter the country would pose a direct security threat. Most had been convicted of particularly grave crimes and lacked the documentation required for legal entry into Georgia, he emphasized.
The true identity and nationality of the individuals remains uncertain. While some have claimed to be Ukrainian citizens, this has not been independently verified. According to Georgian authorities, the absence of reliable identity papers has made it impossible to confirm their nationality.
Georgian media reports suggest that the individuals themselves admit to having served prison sentences in Eastern Ukraine, but it remains unclear whether they were released by Ukrainian institutions or transferred from Russian-controlled areas.
In response to the situation, the Georgian side has offered Ukraine several options for repatriating the individuals, including via air or land routes. Georgia has made clear that it cannot permit entry without proper documentation and has cited national security concerns.
So far, the Ukrainian government has not reached a final decision regarding the proposed repatriation mechanisms. Ekho Kavkaza reported that joint consultations between the two governments are ongoing, with discussions focused on ensuring the individuals’ safe return to Ukrainian territory.
Volunteers Tbilisi, a group that helps Ukrainian refugees in Georgia, described ‘inhumane’ conditions for the stranded persons while they await a resolution, with lack of sufficient beds, as well as access to food, water and sanitation, as cited by AFP.
