The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has issued a statement regarding the persons staying in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point “Dariali”.

According to the ministry, there are currently 17 persons staying in the so-called neutral zone of “Dariali”, and “the Georgian side is intensively continuing negotiations with the Ukrainian side and international organizations on their organized, safe and voluntary return to their homeland”.

In addition, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia notes in its statement that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, in coordination with the embassies of the relevant countries in Georgia and representatives of international organizations, is providing the primary needs of persons staying in the so-called “neutral zone”.

“We would like to respond to the information spread regarding the persons staying in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point “Dariali” and the unfounded accusations made against the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

We would like to clarify that 17 people remain in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point “Dariali”, including women and children.

The people in the so-called neutral zone claim to be citizens of Ukraine, but do not have valid documents required for crossing the border and do not meet the criteria for entry to the Georgian state border. In addition, in the interests of state security, these people are not allowed to enter the country because they have a criminal record and have been convicted of serious or especially serious crimes.

As is known to the public, a large part of the Ukrainian citizens at the border crossing point “Dariali”, who expressed their desire to voluntarily return to their homeland, have already left Georgia via a third country as a result of long and multilateral negotiations between the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ukrainian side.

The Georgian side continues intensive negotiations with the Ukrainian side and international organizations on the organized, safe and voluntary return of the 17 people currently in the neutral zone to their homeland.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia expresses its constant readiness to implement all relevant measures within its competence and to assist the Ukrainian side in the process of returning the people at the Georgian state border to their homeland.

In addition, we emphasize that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, in coordination with the embassies of the relevant countries in Georgia and representatives of international organizations, is providing the basic needs of the people in the so-called "neutral zone", - reads the statement.