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Russian or Belarusian in Georgia

The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.

Draft What human rights defenders advise

Russian or Belarusian in Georgia
  • Visa-free stays of up to 365 days. Agencies and law firms report that since 2026 insurance for the whole stay is required at entry; check. Leaving to 'reset' your stay can end in an unexplained entry refusal; a residence permit is safer.
  • Foreigners joining protests face fines of up to 5,000 lari, up to 60 days' detention and expulsion with an entry ban of up to 3 years. Russian Denis Kulanin was nearly deported to Russia after being pardoned.
  • Since 2026 Georgia has again been extraditing people to Russia on 'ordinary' criminal charges. If you are wanted, lawyers advise finding counsel early and gathering evidence the case is political.
  • If detained, ask for an interpreter and a lawyer and tell your family. Where to turn: The Ark (Kovcheg), the Transparency International Georgia legal centre.

current as of 25 September 2026. More: Amnesty: the case of Denis Kulanin; NewsGeorgia: extraditions to Russia resume; JAMnews: who is barred from entering Georgia

Whom to contact

2 organisations

Transparency International Georgia

Free legal consultations at its legal centres in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Zugdidi; monitors the prosecution of protesters and NGOs.

The legal centre advises members of the public; ask whether they take foreigners' cases.

Other ways to reach them: +995 322 921403 · info@transparency.ge (a call stays in the phone log and with the operator)

Georgia contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch transparency.ge

The Ark (Kovcheg)

Legal advice for people who have left (documents, residence permits, visas, asylum, extradition risk), temporary housing, free psychologists, mutual-aid chats by city.

Lawyers via the Telegram bots @kovcheglive_bot and @EmigrantHelpBot; psychologists and housing via forms on the website. The project was set up with support from the Anti-War Committee, designated 'terrorist' in Russia in March 2026; The Ark itself is a 'foreign agent'.

Other ways to reach them: team@kovcheg.live

abroad foreign agent contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch kovcheg.live

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