On Sept. 10, civil activists and relatives of Giorgi Kinoiani, a Georgian volunteer fighter detained in Yerevan, gathered in front of the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi. They read aloud an open letter to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which they later handed over to representatives of the embassy.
The demonstrators appealed to Armenia not to allow Kinoiani’s extradition to Russia, warning that his life would be in danger there.
At the same time, six Members of the European Parliament (MEP) sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding Kinoiani’s case, as he remains in extradition custody in Armenia.
The MEPs expressed grave concern and urged the EU to provide a swift and clear response. “There is no ambiguity about what awaits him: torture, political persecution, or death,” the letter – signed by Krzysztof Brejza, Rasa Juknevičienė, Michał Szczerba, Borys Budka, Markéta Gregorová, and Petras Auštrevičius – emphasized.
“This is not just a personal tragedy. It is a direct challenge to the principles of justice, rule of law, and European solidarity. Armenia’s cooperation with Russia in persecuting those who resist aggression stands in stark contradiction to its aspirations for closer ties with the European Union, including deeper political engagement.”
Giorgi Kinoiani (Photo courtesy of Vako Kinoiani)
The MEPs further warned that Armenia’s facilitation of the transfer of individuals to “a regime responsible for war crimes and systemic repression” raises serious doubts, calling on Brussels to prevent Kinoiani’s extradition.
Detention at Armenian border
Giorgi Kinoiani, a 29-year-old Georgian volunteer who fought in Ukraine against Russian forces, was detained at the Armenian border on Sept. 3. He is now being held under a 40-day extradition period, during which Moscow must submit formal documentation to support its request.
According to his family, Georgian border authorities allowed him to cross into Armenia without informing him that he was wanted under a so-called Russian “red notice.”
“On Sept. 3, Giorgi was traveling with our family – my mother and father were accompanying him, along with another brother to see relatives there – when the problem occurred. His detention happened right in front of our eyes,” his brother, Vako Kinoiani, told Kyiv Post.
Vako explained that Georgian police had no record of Russia’s request. “Russia had issued the notice for his arrest to Armenia, and Armenia acted on it at the border checkpoint. Georgia did not have this information, so they could not warn him. If Giorgi had known, he would never have left Georgia,” he said.
Following a late-night court hearing on Sept. 6, Kinoiani was placed in a 40-day extradition detention.
Giorgi Kinoiani (Photo courtesy of Vako Kinoiani)
“The lawyer told us that during this period Russia must submit a formal extradition request. Until now, the request was only for detention. We do not know when or how Russia will submit it. The lawyer said it could happen at any time – potentially even tomorrow – and Giorgi could already be extradited,” his brother explained.
“The situation is very serious. Previously, I had some hope that the process might be delayed, but the lawyers told us there is a real risk of extradition very soon. Right now, our hopes are very limited. We are extremely anxious and distressed,” he added.
Russia’s case against Kinoiani
Russian authorities have been pursuing Kinoiani for over a year. He fought in the early stages of the full-scale war in Ukraine. On Oct. 25, 2024, a Russian-occupied court in Donetsk convicted him in absentia and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
Born in Tbilisi, Kinoiani traveled to Ukraine in March 2022 and became known among Ukrainian soldiers as a patriotic and positive fighter. He was a close friend of the fallen Georgian volunteer Nika Shanava.
Back home, Kinoiani was active in public life. With other volunteers, he carried out anti-occupation patrols in Shida Kartli villages near the line of Russian control, including the Atotsi base. He participated in nearly every major protest on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
A political test for Armenia
Kinoiani’s case is politically sensitive for Armenia, which remains formally allied with Russia under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) but has increasingly distanced itself from Moscow due to frustration over its passivity during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Handing Kinoiani to Russia would spark strong condemnation from Kyiv and Western allies, while refusal risks deepening tensions with the Kremlin – a powerful player in Armenia’s security and economy.
His fate could become a litmus test of Moscow’s ability to extend its judicial reach into neighboring countries.