Georgia Allows Pardoned Russian Activist to Leave for Third Country
The Tbilisi City Court allowed Russian activist Denis Kulanian, who was pardoned in Georgia, to voluntarily leave the country within seven days and travel to a third country, rejecting deportation to Russia. He had been sentenced in 2025 for damaging a police vehicle during protests and was pardoned in August 2026.
Consensus
- Denis Kulanian, a Russian national, was pardoned in Georgia.
- The Tbilisi City Court permitted Kulanian to voluntarily leave Georgia within seven days.
- Kulanian was not to be deported directly to Russia.
- He was sentenced in June 2025 to two years in prison for damaging a police vehicle during protests.
- The court's decision followed a request from the Georgian Department of Migration to allow voluntary departure within seven days, including to a third country.
- Kulanian had purchased a ticket to Yerevan, Armenia, for September 1.
- Protests occurred in Tbilisi on September 1 demanding his right to leave.
- Kulanian was held in a temporary migrant center after his pardon until the court ruling.
Points of divergence
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs previously stated it would allow Kulanian to leave for a third country, but the migration service later changed its position and planned to request formal deportation. — novaya_eu
- The migration service initially did not object to Kulanian's departure before the court ruling, but later claimed he must wait for the official decision despite having a ticket. — tg_kavkazrealii
- Rights Georgia reported that the court gave Kulanian seven days for voluntary departure, but did not specify that the departure could be to a third country. — tg_echoonline_news
- Paper Kartuli reported that the court allowed Kulanian to voluntarily fly to a third country, but did not mention the seven-day period. — tg_currenttime
Coverage (13 sources)
- Georgia will allow Russian Denis Kulanin to leave for a third country Tbilisi city court granted pardon to exiled in Georgia Russian Denis Kulanin will be allowed to voluntarily fly to a third country, reports Paper Kartuli citing human rights organization... — Настоящее Время
- Amnesty granted Russian activist in Georgia will not be deported to Russia Tbilisi city court gave Russian Denis Kulanin seven days to voluntarily leave Georgia, said rights organization Rights Georgia. Organization stated that to Russia... — ЭХО / Новости
- Tbilisi City Court Allowed Russian Denis Kulanin to Voluntarily Leave Georgia and Move to a Third Country — Радио Свобода
- Georgia will allow Russian Denis Kulakin to leave for a third country — Настоящее Время
- Amnesty granted to Russian activist in Georgia; he will not be deported to Russia — ЭХО / Новости
- Activist will not be deported from Georgia to Russia — Дождь
- Georgia will not turn over Russian citizen Denis Kulani to Russian authorities. He will be allowed to leave the country voluntarily — Meduza
- Denis Kulaniyev – one of nine participants in anti-government protests who were pardoned by the President of Georgia Mi... — Настоящее Время
- Russian Denis Kulinin, pardoned in Georgia, is not allowed to leave the country despite having a ticket to Yerevan. Human rights defenders fear he will be deported to Russia — Meduza
- Paroled Russian Denis Kulaniin in Georgia will not be able to leave the country tomorrow despite having bought a ticket — lawyer Sot... — ЭХО / Новости
- Amnesty-granted Russian Denis Kulinin may be deported to his homeland — Новая газета Европа
- Rostov native Denis Kulinin, pardoned after protests in Georgia, left at temporary center for foreigners... — Кавказ.Реалии
- Paroled Russian Denis Kulaniin in Georgia cannot leave the country tomorrow despite purchased ticket — lawyer — ЭХО / Новости
Key entities
- Denis Kulanin
- Georgia
- Russia
- Tbilisi City Court
- Yerevan
- Paper Kartuli
- Rights Georgia
- APUS
- MVD
- Armenia
- Ciala Ratian
- Tbilisi
- Georgian Dream
- Russian