Ukrainian former prisoners forcibly deported to Russia stuck on border with Georgia again

A group of Ukrainian citizens, formerly prisoners from the occupied territories, who were taken to Russia and deported after their time in prison, have been blocked on the border of Russia with Georgia for a long time.

Source: Georgian media, citing Volunteers Tbilisi volunteer initiative, as reported by European Pravda

Volunteers say that 16 former prisoners, citizens of Ukraine, are waiting for permission to enter Georgia at the Verkhnii Lars checkpoint. Some spent three days there, and some spent 18 days already.

The Volunteers Tbilisi says that among these people are several prisoners from Crimea who were behind bars even before the occupation of the peninsula. The men live in an unheated basement, and some have fallen ill. On three occasions, they would get some aid: water, food, medicine, and personal hygiene products.

Activists say that the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia is aware of the situation, as is Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.

Background: This is not the first such case on the border of Georgia. In August, the released Ukrainians spent almost 11 days at the border, and the group of people that was deported in October spent two weeks there.

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