Georgia blocks pardoned Russian activist Denis Kulanin from flying to Armenia, as rights advocates fear he’ll be deported to Russia
Georgia’s Interior Ministry immigration department has blocked Russian national Denis Kulanin from leaving the country, according to the human rights group APUS. Kulanin, released a few days ago after being pardoned, had planned to fly to Yerevan.
The Georgia Interior Ministry has barred Russian activist Denis Kulanin from departing the country, according to human rights organization APUS. Kulanin was recently released from prison after receiving a pardon from Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili on August 27. Kulanin was initially sentenced to two years in prison in 2025 for damaging an Interior Ministry vehicle during protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The court authorized his departure to a third country, and supporters procured a ticket for him to fly to Yerevan, Armenia. However, he was denied permission to leave. Kulanin's lawyer, Darya Samodurova, confirmed that a decision on his expulsion has not been finalized, and therefore he cannot fly where he intended. Kulanin is currently being detained in an immigration facility.
Georgian law provides exceptions allowing a foreigner subject to an expulsion order to be denied the opportunity for voluntary departure, which could result in his deportation to Russia. Kulanin, who was a volunteer at Alexey Navalny's campaign office in Rostov-on-Don, spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine, potentially putting him at risk in his home country.
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