**Tbilisi Court Grants Pardoned Protester Denis Kulanin Seven Days to Leave Georgia**
The Tbilisi City Court has ruled that Russian citizen and pardoned protester Denis Kulanin may leave Georgia voluntarily within seven days. The decision, issued by Judge Leila Poladashvili on September 4, allows Kulanin to depart for a third country, mitigating concerns that he would be forcibly deported to Russia.
Kulanin was arrested in 2025 and sentenced to two years in prison for damaging a police vehicle during protests in Tbilisi. In late August, he was among nine protesters pardoned by President Mikheil Kavelashvili. Following the pardon, Kulanin was transferred to a temporary accommodation center operated by the Interior Ministry’s Migration Department, where deportation proceedings were initiated.
Although Kulanin’s legal team had initially arranged for his departure to a third country—reportedly Armenia—on September 1, the process was stalled when a court previously ordered him to remain in custody until his deportation procedures were finalized. Authorities stated that a formal court hearing was required to authorize his voluntary departure.
During the legal proceedings, Kulanin’s lawyers and supporters expressed concern that the government might forcibly return him to Russia. They argued that Kulanin, who has made public statements in support of Ukraine and the late Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny, would face a significant risk of torture and ill-treatment if returned to his home country.
Rights Georgia, the organization representing Kulanin, confirmed the court’s latest ruling. His lawyer, Tsiala Ratiani, stated that the organization would continue to assist Kulanin until he successfully departs for a safe third country. “We hope that the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not obstruct the enforcement of this order and will ensure that Denis Kulanin is taken to the flight for which we will purchase a ticket,” Ratiani said.
The case drew international attention on September 1, when Amnesty International issued a statement urging Georgian authorities to refrain from deporting Kulanin to Russia. Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasized that Georgian authorities have an obligation to ensure Kulanin can effectively seek international protection and depart for a safe third country.
Article and image source: civil.ge
