Georgia’s border service has been holding dozens of Ukrainians deported from Russia in a “basement” while they await permission to enter the country, a humanitarian aid group said on Monday.
Most of the Ukrainians were prisoners who completed their sentences and were subsequently ordered to leave.
Many of them were transported by Russia to the border en masse.
At least 56 who crossed into Georgia were transferred to a “basement” facility near the Dariali crossing while authorities processed their applications to enter, humanitarian aid group Volunteers Tbilisi told AFP.
“The conditions are inhumane. They are without basic necessities – food, water, sanitation,” the group’s head, Maria Belkina, told AFP.
Belkina said 17 had since left Georgia on a flight to Moldova after passing embassy checks and obtaining temporary travel documents.
But she stressed these departures were “voluntary in name only.”
It is not clear how many remain there.
Some have been kept there for weeks and the facility only has 17 beds and no basic amenities.
Many had already spent months in Russian migrant detention centres after being released from prison and had faced pressure from Russian authorities to join the military.
“Some have serious medical conditions, including suspected tuberculosis and HIV.
“One man has already been hospitalized. Two others reportedly died after staying here,” Belkina said.
“People are told: ‘Either stay in the basement or buy a ticket and go home.’”
While Georgia has not officially closed the border to Ukrainian nationals, Belkina said a recent policy shift has delayed entry, even for those with biometric passports.
Some face waits of up to two weeks.
Belkina said Russia may be accelerating deportations ahead of expected changes to Georgian migration laws in September, which are aimed at tightening entries.
Rights groups estimate that up to 800 more Ukrainians could be transferred to the border in the coming weeks.