Between 80 and 90 Ukrainian citizens have been left in limbo in the Georgian-Russian border zone near the Dariali gorge, facing deteriorating conditions as Tbilisi refuses them entry. Georgian officials cite concerns over their alleged criminal backgrounds, while Kyiv accuses Moscow of using deportations as a tool of political pressure and is demanding an alternative route for repatriation. The stranded individuals are reportedly former inmates and residents of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories who were forcibly deported from Russia. Many are being held in what has been described as an underground, windowless facility lacking proper ventilation, bedding, and basic necessities.

Reports about the situation began to surface weeks ago, as Ukrainian human rights defenders and volunteers sounded the alarm over the conditions. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, in a July 19 statement on X (formerly Twitter), directly accused Russia of exploiting deportations as a means of coercion. "Russia is weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens through Georgia," he wrote. According to Sybiha, the wave of deportations has intensified since June, with the majority of deportees being individuals who had served prison sentences in Russia or occupied Ukrainian territories. Many lack valid documents, which complicates their return to Ukraine.

In a public statement on July 20, Georgia’s Interior Ministry defended its refusal to admit the deportees, citing national security interests. The Ministry claimed that most of the individuals had extensive criminal histories, including convictions for serious or particularly serious offenses. These claims were based on documentation provided by the individuals themselves, including prison release certificates. The Ministry stated that up to 80 individuals were currently in the border zone, having arrived from Russia and attempting to cross into Georgia while identifying as Ukrainian nationals but lacking valid documentation. Although it acknowledged ongoing coordination with Ukrainian authorities, Georgia emphasized that it had offered to facilitate their return to Ukraine by sea or air. The Ministry said Kyiv had not yet accepted the sea route and that talks were ongoing about other options.

However, the repatriation process via Moldova, which had already enabled the evacuation of 43 individuals, was reportedly suspended earlier this month. A BBC investigation revealed that Moldovan authorities withdrew their cooperation after four deportees, flown from Georgia to Moldova, failed to arrive in Ukraine as expected. Ukrainian legal advocates explained that the Moldovan transit plan relied on deportees traveling on their own from Chișinău to Odessa, a system that broke down when some individuals did not complete the journey.

Volunteers working with the deportees have strongly criticized both the conditions at the border and the Georgian government’s characterizations of the stranded individuals. The Tbilisi-based initiative Volunteers of Tbilisi challenged the claim that the group consists only of former criminals, pointing out that many have no criminal record whatsoever. In a statement on July 18, Maria Belkina, head of the volunteer group, argued, "There are different categories of citizens trapped in these unbearable conditions, including those with no criminal records whatsoever." Belkina and other volunteers have also been vocal in describing the border holding area as a severely overcrowded basement with no natural light, poor air circulation, and only about 20 beds for nearly 90 people. The group also reported a lack of access to clean water and food, adding that two people had required hospitalization due to health issues. The volunteers also dismissed the narrative that Ukrainians were voluntarily presenting themselves at the Georgian border seeking entry. According to the group, some individuals were escorted to the Upper Larsi checkpoint by Russian security forces, while others were simply ordered to leave Russian territory and had no viable alternative but to approach the Georgian border.

With deportations from Russia increasing and Ukraine struggling to find workable repatriation routes, the situation remains unresolved. Tbilisi continues to assert its sovereign right to deny entry to individuals deemed a threat, while Kyiv presses both Georgia and Moldova to cooperate in enabling a humane and secure return of its nationals. Despite offers from Georgia to assist in transportation, the breakdown of the Moldova route and the refusal to accept sea transit have complicated efforts. Meanwhile, calls for Russia to return deportees directly to Ukrainian-controlled territory have so far gone unheeded.