A protest took place in Tbilisi outside the Migration Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding that Russian national Denis Kulanin be permitted to leave for a safe third country. The Russian citizen, convicted following his participation in pro-European demonstrations, was recently pardoned by the president but has still been unable to leave Georgia.
Kulanin was detained on March 28, 2025, on Rustaveli Avenue on charges of damaging an Interior Ministry vehicle and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. On August 28, President Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned 226 inmates—all of whom were released except the Russian citizen. By decision of the Tbilisi City Court, he was transferred to the Migration Service’s Temporary Accommodation Center pending the completion of deportation procedures.
Denis Kulanin’s supporters purchased him an airline ticket for a September 1 flight to a third country. Human rights activists maintain that under the law, he has the right to voluntarily depart Georgia and choose his destination independently. They fear that the Russian national will be deported to his homeland, where he may face danger. Kulanin has, among other things, voiced public support for Ukraine.
Demonstrators gathered outside the immigration detention facility demanded that the Russian citizen be allowed to leave Georgia and travel to a country of his choosing.
Kulanin’s lawyer addressed the protesters with a letter from her client. In it, the Russian national thanked those assembled for their support, referring to them as “the Georgian family that stands by me.” He also stated that a year ago he had signed a document whose contents were unknown to him at the time. Later, upon learning that it was a petition for a presidential pardon, Denis formally withdrew it.
“I signed a document unknown to me in July 2025 and deeply regretted it when I learned it was a pardon request. I submitted a withdrawal, but it was apparently ignored. I feel terrible that I am free while wonderful people remain behind bars!”
Kulanin also added that authorities are currently “trying to dump me back in Russia.”
