Briefing of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Aleksandre Darakhvelidze
We would like to provide the public with detailed information about the individuals at the Dariali border crossing point, who claim to be citizens of Ukraine and are attempting to cross the Georgian state border with invalid documents.
First of all, currently there are 87 people in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point "Dariali". In the interests of state security, the above-mentioned individuals are not allowed to enter the country, as all of them have serious criminal records and have been convicted multiple times for serious or particularly serious crimes. In addition, they do not possess valid documents required to cross the border and do not meet the criteria for entry at the Georgian state border.
To resolve the existing situation, which involves the return of people at the Dariali border crossing point to their homeland, the Georgian side held a number of working meetings with the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia, as well as with representatives of international organizations. The police attache network was also used, within the framework of which communication took place between the Georgian police attache in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Georgian side offered the Ukrainian side several mechanisms for the safe transfer and return of people from the so-called neutral zone to their homeland – Ukraine. Among them, we offered options for the return of these people to their homeland, both by air and by sea.
Despite these efforts, the Ukrainian side has so far refrained from using the mechanism for the return of persons at the border by sea. And, to this day, we have not received final, official confirmation regarding their organized return to their homeland via charter flight. However, it is also worth noting that we have had precedents for the transfer of similar individuals previously- with the involvement of the Ukrainian side, in June-July 2025, out of approximately 134 individuals coming from the Russian Federation, 37 individuals left Georgia for Moldova, and about 10 individuals left in various directions.
This circumstance demonstrates that, if there is the appropriate will and with the involvement of interested parties, it is possible for individuals in the neutral zone to safely return to their homeland. The artificial delay of the process raises suspicions that the Ukrainian side wants these people to remain in the so-called neutral zone for a long time, so that later the Georgian side will be forced to allow them to cross the Georgian state border. We categorically declare that we will not endanger the security and public order of our country's population!
It is also worth mentioning that a few days ago, approximately 15 people in the so-called neutral zone of "Daryali" were on a hunger strike - all of them wanted to use this form of protest to reach out to representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy, so that they could return to their homeland, to Ukraine, by any means, with the support of the Ukrainian side and the assistance of partner international organizations.
We appeal to the relevant Ukrainian authorities to immediately take measures to ensure the return of their citizens to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia once again expresses its full readiness to implement all relevant measures within its competence and to assist the Ukrainian side in the process of returning persons in the so-called neutral zone to their homeland, including being ready to reimburse the costs necessary for the return of the said persons to their homeland.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant state agencies, within the scope of their competence, is taking the necessary measures to, on the one hand, protect the security of the population of Georgia and, on the other hand, ensure the timely return to their homeland of persons in the so-called "neutral zone".
