Situation at Upper Lars Border Crossing, GEORGIA

To the attention of media, law enforcement agencies of Ukraine, human rights defenders, and international human rights organizations!

Situation overview:

Currently, there are 6 Ukrainian former prisoners at the Upper Lars Border Crossing who were released from the russian Center for Temporary detention of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the gulkevichsky gistrict, krasnodarski krai. These individuals were brought to the Upper Lars Border Crossing during the night of August 16th to 17th. They were released by russia, but Georgia has not allowed them entry onto its territory.

Difficulties with passage:

Each of the Ukrainian citizens received identical written decisions in the Georgian language at the border, content of which prohibits their entry into Georgian territory. However, all six citizens categorically refuse to return to russia as their lives are under direct threat in that country, particularly due to the ongoing war between russia and Ukraine. These individuals also attempted to apply for asylum in Georgia, but Georgian border guards are refusing to accept these applications.

Current situation:

At present, all six Ukrainian citizens are located on neutral territory, with limited communication and (TILL NOW!!!) no access to food and water. These citizens of Ukraine are victims of war crimes, among them there are those who need continuous treatment

Request for intervention:

We have already contacted the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia and provided a detailed description of the situation to the Authorized Representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights and the Ombudsman of Georgia. Our representatives also spent the night on the "Georgian" side of the Lars Border Crossing, hoping that Ukrainian citizens would be able to pass through the Georgian border.

UnMode calls upon:

We appeal to the media, human rights defenders, state, and international human rights organizations to pay attention to this situation and provide assistance in ensuring the immediate passage of these citizens into Georgian territory.