Georgian Interior Ministry: 17 people remain in Dariali neutral zone without valid travel documents
Photo: Facebook
Seventeen individuals currently remain in the so-called neutral zone at the Dariali border crossing point, and none of them are women or children, according to a statement released by Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Ministry said that the individuals claim to be Ukrainian citizens but do not possess valid documents required for crossing the border and therefore do not meet the criteria for entry into Georgia.
Furthermore, citing state security interests, the Ministry noted that the individuals have not been granted permission to enter the country due to their criminal backgrounds, including convictions for serious and particularly serious crimes.
The Interior Ministry rejected what it described as unfounded allegations directed at the agency regarding the situation in the neutral zone near the Dariali border checkpoint.
According to the statement, a significant number of Ukrainian citizens who had previously been staying near the Dariali crossing and expressed a willingness to return voluntarily to their homeland have already left Georgia via a third country. Their departure was facilitated through lengthy and multilateral negotiations between the Georgian authorities and the Ukrainian side.
The Ministry stated that intensive negotiations are ongoing with Ukrainian authorities and international organizations to arrange the organized, safe, and voluntary return of the remaining 17 individuals to Ukraine.
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs also reaffirmed its readiness to undertake all measures within its competence and to assist the Ukrainian side in the process of returning the individuals currently located at the Georgian state border.
In addition, the Ministry emphasised that, in coordination with the relevant embassy and representatives of international organizations, it continues to provide the individuals in the neutral zone with essential humanitarian assistance and basic necessities.
All News
11 June 2026, 17:27
Politics
Georgian FM says PM’s visit to Kyrgyzstan provides good opportunity to discuss bilateral cooperation
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Thursday said high-level meetings would be held during the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s official visit to Kyrgyzstan.
11 June 2026, 17:17
Justice
US IRS Criminal Investigation official praises joint effort at Georgia Prosecutor General’s Office briefing
Speaking at a briefing held at the Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia, Daniel Harris, Regional Attaché of the Criminal Investigation Division of the United States Internal Revenue Service in Frankfurt, praised the successful cooperation between Georgian, international, and federal law enforcement agencies in a major investigation.
11 June 2026, 16:01
Politics
Joint Georgia-US-Poland operation targets cybercrime networks
A large-scale coordinated operation has been carried out in Georgia with the participation of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, the United States Secret Service, the Central Cybercrime Bureau of Poland, and the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Łódź, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia.
11 June 2026, 14:40
Economy
IMF raises Georgia’s economic growth forecast to 6.5%
The International Monetary Fund has revised upward its forecast for Georgia’s economic growth to 6.5% in its publication “Georgia: 2026 Article IV Consultation”.
11 June 2026, 13:52
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker questions Kaja Kallas’ standing in international diplomacy
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday criticised Brussels and the European Union’s foreign policy, arguing that the EU is making repeated mistakes due to what he described as a lack of professionalism and qualification among its officials.
11 June 2026, 13:05
Economy
IMF: prudent macroeconomic management, macroprudential policies have supported further de-dollarisation of Georgia’s economy
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has concluded its Article IV Consultation review of Georgia’s economy.
11 June 2026, 12:12
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU being driven toward Soviet Union-like model
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday criticised a segment of the domestic opposition, claiming that their actions amount to “offering Georgia on a platter” to foreign interests.
11 June 2026, 11:58
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker says Brussels seeks to eliminate China as competitor through propaganda campaign
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday commented on the domestic opposition’s assessments of Georgia’s comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China, saying that the country’s foreign policy is designed to achieve the domestic objectives, including improving public welfare and advancing national reunification.
10 June 2026, 21:34
Economy
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister: Georgia-China strategic partnership boosts trade, deepens economic cooperation
Tamar Ioseliani, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, on Wednesday said that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Georgia and China was significantly strengthening economic ties and contributing to strong growth in trade, exports, and investment.
10 June 2026, 21:16
Politics
Georgian Parliament official: blackmail over visa-free travel will only fuel skepticism toward EU
Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Wednesday said that using visa liberalisation as a political instrument of pressure would not affect Georgian citizens and would instead deepen public scepticism toward the European Union.
10 June 2026, 16:58
Politics
Georgian PM: US President advocates closer China ties while his party members criticise Georgia’s cooperation with Beijing
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said that “double standards” were a common practice among those who criticise Georgia for its foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding its engagement with China.
10 June 2026, 16:18
Foreign policy
Georgian PM says comprehensive strategic partnership with China will bring major political and economic benefits
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with China would mark a new stage in deepening bilateral relations and bring significant political and economic benefits to Georgia.
10 June 2026, 15:53
Politics
Georgian PM: Georgia-China strategic partnership delivers tangible benefits, based on mutual respect, equality
Georgia places special importance on further deepening cooperation with China, which, based on the experience of the past 50 years, is the only peaceful superpower in the world, said on Wednesday Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
10 June 2026, 14:31
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker criticises EU for turning visa-free travel into political tool
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday sharply criticised the European Union, accusing it of applying unfair political pressure on Georgia and violating international agreements.
10 June 2026, 14:07
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: if Brussels does not support politically motivated crimes, there will be no such crimes
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that politically motivated offences in Georgia are being encouraged and financed from abroad, and argued that if Brussels and other foreign capitals stop supporting such actions, both the offences and the resulting punishments would disappear.
10 June 2026, 13:41
Justice
Tbilisi Police Chief: 119 arrested in nationwide drug crackdown
Tbilisi Police Department Director Vazha Siradze on Wednesday said 119 people, including 49 suspected drug dealers, had been arrested on drug-related charges during police operations conducted across Tbilisi and other regions of Georgia over the past 48 hours.
10 June 2026, 12:53
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: Georgia’s future must be determined solely by Georgian people
Georgia is an independent and sovereign state, and only the Georgian people have the right to determine its future, said on Wednesday Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.
10 June 2026, 12:34
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: healthy partnerships between countries based on aligning national interests, not serving foreign agendas
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that healthy relations between countries are based not on one side serving the interests of another, but on the search for alignment of national interests, stressing that “this is the essence of sovereignty”.
10 June 2026, 12:15
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: dynamic Georgia-China ties have produced major achievements in recent years
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said that relations between Georgia and China have been so dynamic that the two countries have achieved significant results in just a few years.