Georgian citizen Giorgi Kinoyan, wanted by Russia, crossed the Armenian border and is now in custody – we demand explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about what steps it is taking to prevent him from being extradited to Russia, – Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the Lelo-Strong Georgia coalition, stated at the briefing in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Vato Surguladze, a representative of the same coalition.
According to Elisashvili, Giorgi Kinoyan did not know that he was wanted by Russia.
“We left a letter at the Chancellery and are requesting official explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about what our foreign policy department is doing to free a very brave boy, a Georgian citizen, Giorgi Kinoyan, who was imprisoned in Armenia. He fought as a volunteer in Ukraine. The Donetsk court sentenced him to 7 years in prison and, as it turns out, he was wanted by Russia. He did not know that he was wanted. He crossed the Armenian border, our border guards did not inform him of the case and now he is in custody. Russia is demanding his extradition. Under no circumstances should this happen. Despite the fact that there are traitors, I believe that there are also other honest, professional people working in this department in a leadership position. These people and no one in Georgia should allow a Georgian citizen to be extradited to Russia and find himself in a difficult situation. We are officially requesting explanations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about what specific steps it is taking or has taken to return this person to Georgia and not to hand over to Russia. In addition, what steps are being taken to ensure that thousands of Georgians fighting in Ukraine do not face similar threats and problems,” said Aleko Elisashvili.
One of the coalition representatives, Vato Surguladze, also spoke at the briefing, noting that “yes, we demand that this heroic man, Giorgi, return to Georgia and not be handed over to the Russian fascists, where, perhaps, if he ends up in prison, you know what conditions he will be in, if he survives at all.”
Aleko Elisashvili: We demand explanations from the Foreign Ministry on what steps it is taking to prevent Giorgi Kinoyan from being extradited to Russia – what steps it is taking to prevent Georgians fighting in Ukraine from having similar problems
