Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Szybiga has accused Russia of deporting Ukrainian citizens to Georgia and leaving them there without regular documents, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Szybiga said that Russia has begun expelling Ukrainians, many of whom are released prisoners, through its southern border, instead of sending them directly to its border with Ukraine. The foreign minister wrote on the social platform "Ex" that these actions constitute "using the deportation of Ukrainian citizens as a weapon".
There has been no comment from Moscow so far. Russian authorities deny allegations of abuses or attacks on civilians.
"Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian citizens, mostly former prisoners, to its border with Georgia," Sibiga noted. "As a result, dozens of people, many of whom do not have the necessary documents, are stranded in the transit zone," he added.
"Ukrainian consuls are actively working to provide them with documents and transport them to Ukraine via Moldova," Sibiga was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.
According to the foreign minister, 43 Ukrainian citizens, including former political prisoner Andriy Kolomiyets, have been transported from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but many people still find themselves in a difficult situation at the border. Szybiga called on Russia to transport these people to its border with Ukraine.
Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed the issue with Szybiga. "These are Ukrainians released by the Russians from prisons and penal colonies on Russian-controlled territory," he added. "Ukrainian diplomats are organizing the transit transfer of these fellow citizens back to Ukraine," Zelensky added.