Five Ukrainians stuck at Russian-Georgian border begin indefinite hunger strike

According to Ukrainian citizen Serhiy Larko, who has been at the border between Russia and Georgia for about a month, the protesters plan to submit an official statement to the Georgian border guards announcing the beginning of a hunger strike.

“I, Larko Serhiy Oleksiyovych, declare an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the illegal actions of the Georgian border guards and the violation of my rights,” the statement reads.

The Ukrainian citizen claims that he was deported from Russia on June 21, and upon arrival in Georgia, his passport was allegedly confiscated and biometric data collected without legal grounds.

“I was placed in inhumane conditions in the basement of the Dariali checkpoint together with 97 people, including individuals with HIV and tuberculosis. I was denied permission to leave Georgia, submit an asylum application, receive legal assistance, or appeal my detention,” Larko said.

According to the publication, the protesters are demanding that the Ukrainian consul be allowed access to them, the reasons for their detention be explained, and they be given the opportunity to leave Georgia or apply for international protection, undergo medical examinations, and put an end to what they describe as unlawful detention.

On July 20, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that about 80 Ukrainian citizens were stuck in the transit zone at the border between Russia and Georgia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha recently proposed that Russia transport the people directly to the Ukrainian border. He added that since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian citizens, mostly former prisoners, at the border with Georgia.

On June 26, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that a number of Ukrainian citizens who had been deported from Russia after serving prison sentences were present at the Russian-Georgian border.

According to the Ministry, on June 21, three Ukrainian citizens were evacuated to Moldova, and on June 25, another nine. A further evacuation of 14 Ukrainians was scheduled for June 27.