Denis Kulanin, who was convicted of damaging a police vehicle during a protest rally last year and was pardoned by Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, has been placed in the Migration Department of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the information to Interpressnews. The ministry stated that, pursuant to Article 51 of Georgia’s Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, Denis Kulanin has the right, at every stage of the administrative proceedings, to voluntarily leave the country and depart either for his country of origin or for a third country.

Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned Denis Kulanin, along with other convicted individuals, on the occasion of the Mariamoba holiday. Immediately after being released from the penitentiary facility, he was transferred to the relevant agency, from where he reportedly faces deportation to Russia.

Denis Kulanin is a Russian-born activist who had been living in Georgia. He was arrested on March 28, 2025. He was charged under Article 187, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns damaging another person’s property.

According to the charge, he damaged a vehicle belonging to the police.

Denis Kulanin had been sentenced to two years in prison.

For reference, President Mikheil Kavelashvili pardoned nine individuals convicted in connection with participation in protest rallies: Daniel Mumladze, Guram Khutashvili, Fridon Bubuteishvili, Denis Kulanin, Saba Jikia, Davit Khomeriki, Tornike Mchedlishvili, Simon Makharadze and Avtandil Topchishvili.