Georgia working with Ukraine on return of Ukrainians "stuck" at Georgia–Russia borde

This was reported by the Echo of the Caucasus, according to Ukrinform.

A post from the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), published on social media, says that options for returning the Ukrainians via air and sea routes have been proposed.

“The Ukrainian side remains unwilling to pursue the maritime return option and has yet to make a concrete decision on their evacuation. However, active joint consultations are ongoing to coordinate a safe repatriation mechanism, including air transport,” the statement reads.

According to the Georgian MIA, many of the individuals in question have serious criminal histories and multiple convictions for grave or especially grave crimes, as confirmed by documents they submitted showing release from prison. Therefore, “denying entry into Georgia to individuals who may pose a threat to public safety and order” is a top priority, the ministry stated.

However, according to Georgian human rights activists and the Ukrainians themselves, they are being held without adequate medical care or food, and the border facility basement lacks sufficient sleeping arrangements, forcing them to sleep in shifts.

The report notes that Russia is sending prisoners to the Russian-Georgian border, specifically, individuals convicted in territories of Ukraine that later came under Russian occupation. Many had already been transferred to Russian penal colonies against their will.

Ukrainian human rights advocates link the rising number of deportations to a decree by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, which states that Ukrainians must either legalize their status in Russia or leave by September 10, 2025. Experts warn that the number of deported Ukrainians could significantly increase by that deadline.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, dozens of Ukrainians facing deportation orders from Russia are being held in a basement without food or water at the Verkhny Lars border checkpoint on the Georgian side.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia is weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens via Georgia, and that Ukraine has proposed that deported individuals be sent directly to the Ukrainian border instead.