Amnesty International: Georgia must not deport Denis Kulanin to Russia
Denis Kulanin’s case
Amnesty International is calling on the Georgian authorities to prevent the deportation of Russian citizen Denis Kulanin to Russia, where the organisation says he faces a real risk of imprisonment and torture.
The organisation says Georgia should protect Kulanin from being forcibly returned to Russia because he has publicly opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine and expressed support for opposition leader Alexei Navalny. According to Amnesty International, both positions could lead to criminal prosecution in Russia.
“Denis Kulanin has publicly opposed Russia’s war in Ukraine and expressed support for Alexei Navalny — both actions constitute criminal offences in Russia and can lead to imprisonment. The Georgian authorities must ensure that he is not deported to Russia. Amid the harsh repression of people who oppose the war, he faces a real risk of arbitrary criminal prosecution, imprisonment, torture or other ill-treatment,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
He said Georgia must uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning a person to a country where they face a real risk of serious human rights violations.
“The Georgian authorities must also ensure that Denis Kulanin has an effective opportunity to seek international protection, including by allowing him to leave voluntarily for a safe third country,” Krivosheev added.
Who is Denis Kulanin?
Denis Kulanin is a Russian citizen who lived in Georgia and took part in pro-European protests. Police arrested him on 28 March 2025 during a demonstration outside parliament. The authorities accused him of smashing a police car window and sentenced him to two years in prison.
On the Orthodox Christian feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, President Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned Kulanin. However, because Kulanin is not a Georgian citizen, the authorities did not release him. Instead, they transferred him to the migration department.
According to his lawyer, deporting Kulanin to Russia would be both unacceptable and dangerous. While in detention, Kulanin sent a letter in which he wished Ukraine glory and peace. His lawyer says that in Russia, authorities can interpret almost any statement about the war in a way that could lead to criminal charges.
On 30 August 2026, the Tbilisi City Court ordered Denis Kulanin to be held at the temporary detention centre run by the Georgian Interior Ministry’s Migration Department. He will remain at the centre until the grounds for his detention cease to apply or the authorities enforce the decision to deport him from Georgia, but for no longer than three months.
On 31 August, Kulanin’s lawyer was told that he would not be allowed to leave Georgia voluntarily until the Tbilisi City Court considers his deportation case.
On 1 September, Kulanin’s lawyer said the Migration Department had asked the Tbilisi City Court to deport him to his country of citizenship, the Russian Federation.
Denis Kulanin’s case
