Georgian president pardons nine activists, one may face deportation to Russia
Georgian president pardons nine activists
On the occasion of the Orthodox feast of Mariamoba (the Dormition of the Mother of God), Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned 226 prisoners. They included nine people detained during various protests. Georgian civil society groups and several organisations consider them political prisoners.
According to pro-government media, those pardoned include Denis Kulanin, a Russian citizen who, according to his lawyer, faces possible deportation.
List of pardoned activists:
- Fridon Bubuteishvili — sentenced to five years in prison on 20 January 2025 on charges of injuring a firefighter-rescuer and damaging the gates of the parliament building. On 8 May 2026, it was reported that he had petitioned the president for a pardon.
- Simon Makharadze — detained in connection with the storming of the presidential palace in October 2025. Several months ago, he reached a plea agreement and was sentenced to one year in prison and a further three years suspended.
- Davit Khomeriki — sentenced to four years and six months in prison on 15 August 2025 on charges of preparing to commit a crime and transporting or placing explosives or other devices or substances posing a danger to life and health.
- Saba Jikia — sentenced to four years and six months in prison on 10 July 2025 on charges of assaulting a police officer.
- Daniel Mumladze — sentenced to three years in prison on 2 June 2025 on charges of damaging a CCTV camera.
- Guram Khutashvili — sentenced to three years in prison on 2 June 2025 on similar charges of damaging a CCTV camera.
- Tornike Mchedlishvili — detained in connection with the storming of the presidential palace and sentenced to five years in prison.
- Avtandil Topchishvili — also detained in connection with the storming of the presidential palace. Several months ago, he reached a plea agreement and was sentenced to one year in prison and a further three years suspended.
Сase of Denis Kulanin
Pro-government Georgian media report that those pardoned also include Denis Kulanin, a Russian citizen who lived in Georgia and took part in pro-European protests. He was detained on 28 March 2025 during a protest outside parliament on charges of breaking the window of a police vehicle and was sentenced to two years in prison.
However, according to his lawyer, Dimitri Nozadze, Kulanin has not been released. The lawyer believes that Kulanin is being held by the immigration authorities and is being prepared for deportation to Russia.
Nozadze says deporting Kulanin to Russia would be unacceptable and dangerous because, while in prison, he published a letter in which he wished Ukraine glory and peace. The lawyer says the letter could give the Russian authorities grounds to bring criminal charges against him.
Адвокат поясняет, что недавно был принят закон, наделяющий силовые ведомства полномочиями выдворять из страны иностранцев, совершивших преступление в Грузии.
На вопрос о том, обращался ли Денис Куланин к президенту Михеилу Кавелашвили с прошением о помиловании, адвокат ответил, что ничего об этом не знает.
