The Ukrainian side has so far refrained from using the mechanism of returning people at the border by sea, and we have not yet received official confirmation of their organized return to their homeland by charter flight - the artificial delay in the process raises suspicions that the Ukrainian side wants these people to remain in the so-called neutral zone for a long time, so that the Georgian side will be forced to allow them to cross the Georgian state border, - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated at the briefing held at the Ministry regarding the Ukrainian citizens in the so-called neutral zone of the Dariali border crossing point.

According to him, they will not put the country's security and law and order at risk.

“We would like to provide the public with detailed information about the individuals at the Dariali border crossing point who claim to be citizens of Ukraine and are attempting to cross the Georgian state border with invalid documents.

First of all, we would like to inform you that at the moment there are 87 individuals in the so-called neutral zone of the Dariali border crossing point. In the interests of state security, these individuals are not allowed to enter the country, as all of them have serious criminal records and have been convicted of multiple serious or especially serious crimes. In addition, they do not have valid documents required to cross the border and do not meet the criteria for entry to the Georgian state border.

In order to resolve the situation, which involves the return of persons staying at the border crossing point to their homeland, the Georgian side held a number of working meetings with the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia, as well as with representatives of international organizations. In order to regulate the above-mentioned issue, the network of police attaches was also used, within the framework of which communication took place between the Georgian Police Attaché in Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

The Georgian side offered the Ukrainian side several mechanisms on how to safely evacuate and return people in the so-called neutral zone to their homeland – Ukraine. Among them, we offered options of the return of these persons to their homeland by both air and sea.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian side has so far refrained from using the mechanism of returning these persons by sea. And, to date, we have not received final, official confirmation regarding their organized return to their homeland by charter flight. However, it is also worth noting that we have had precedents for the transfer of similar persons before - with the involvement of the Ukrainian side, in June-July 2025, out of approximately 134 persons coming from the Russian Federation, 37 persons left Georgia in the direction of Moldova, and about 10 persons in various directions.

The above circumstance demonstrates that, if there is an appropriate will and with the involvement of interested parties, it is possible to safely return persons in the neutral zone to their homeland. The artificial delay of the process raises suspicions that the Ukrainian side wants these persons to remain in the so-called neutral zone for a long time, so that later the Georgian side will be forced to allow them to cross the Georgian state border. We categorically declare that we will not endanger the security and public order of our country's population!

It is also noteworthy that a few days ago, about 15 people in the so-called neutral zone were on hunger strike – all of them wanted to use this form of protest to reach the representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy, so that they could return to their homeland, to Ukraine, by any means, with the support of the Ukrainian side and the assistance of partner international organizations.

We appeal to the relevant Ukrainian agencies to immediately take measures to ensure the return of their citizens to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia once again expresses its full readiness to implement all relevant measures within its competence and to assist the Ukrainian side in the process of returning the persons in the so-called neutral zone to their homeland, including being ready to cover the costs necessary for the return of the said persons to their homeland.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant state agencies, within the framework of their competence, is taking the necessary measures to, on the one hand, protect the security of the Georgian population and, on the other hand, ensure the timely completion of the return of people in the so-called 'neutral zone' to their homeland," Darakhvelidze said.