Ukrainian FM praises Georgia for aiding repatriation of 65 citizens from Russia-Georgia border

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday expressed gratitude to Georgian authorities for their role in facilitating the return of 65 Ukrainian citizens from the Dariali border checkpoint on the Russia-Georgia border.

“On the instructions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the return of 65 Ukrainian citizens from the buffer zone at the Russia-Georgia border to Ukraine was organised. Amongst them are ten women, eight of whom are seriously ill. All of them were at Georgia’s Dariali border checkpoint, effectively in conditions of a humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s actions. Ukrainian diplomats and consuls made every effort to facilitate their return and improve their conditions at the border, including through the involvement of international organisations”, Sybiha said.

Sybiha noted that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with embassies in Georgia and Moldova, had previously facilitated the return of 44 citizens, bringing the total to 109 repatriated from the Dariali checkpoint in recent months.

“I extend special thanks to the official representatives of the Georgian and Moldovan authorities for their assistance in organising the transit route and resolving logistical issues”, he noted.

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Friday announced that 65 Ukrainian citizens who had been stranded at the Dariali border crossing voluntarily returned to their homeland via a charter flight through a third country following extensive negotiations between the Ministry and Ukrainian authorities.

The Ministry facilitated the transfer of the Ukrainian nationals from the Dariali crossing point to Tbilisi International Airport, where they were handed over to representatives of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. Ukrainian officials then oversaw their boarding and accompanied them on the charter flight back to Ukraine.