Georgia Allows Russian Activist Denis Kulanian to Leave Voluntarily
A pardoned Russian activist will not be deported to Russia. The Tbilisi City Court gave Russian Denis Kulanin seven days to voluntarily leave Georgia, reported the human rights organization Rights Georgia.
Consensus
- Denis Kulanian is a Russian national who was sentenced in Georgia for damaging a police vehicle during protests.
- He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2025.
- He was pardoned in August 2026.
- After his pardon, he was placed in a temporary migrant center.
- The Tbilisi City Court granted him seven days to voluntarily leave Georgia.
- He is not to be deported to Russia.
- He may travel to a third country.
- A protest occurred on September 1 in Tbilisi demanding his right to leave freely.
- The Georgian Migration Department initially requested his deportation to Russia but agreed to allow voluntary departure within seven days.
- Rights Georgia and lawyer Tsiala Ratiani represented Kulanian's interests.
- Kulanian was a volunteer for Alexei Navalny’s campaign in Rostov-on-Don and opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- There were concerns that returning to Russia could lead to persecution.
Points of divergence
- Kulanian was detained on March 28, 2025. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The Migration Department initially planned to appeal to the court for formal deportation despite no objections at the hearing. — novaya_eu
- The Migration Department later changed its position and insisted on waiting for a court decision, despite no objections at the hearing. — tg_kavkazrealii
- The center’s leadership threatened Kulanian with deportation if he did not hand over his passport. — novaya_eu
- The center’s leadership claimed to have found Kulanian’s passport with a prosecutor. — tg_kavkazrealii
- APUS believed the Migration Department used the specific wording of 'country of origin' due to public pressure. — meduza
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
- Russian