December 10, 2024

Leave Georgia or Be Sent to Russia


Leave Georgia or Be Sent to Russia
Yevgeny Muravitsky, standing in front of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Belsat, Telegram.

In Georgia, over 400 persons have been arrested in protests in Tbilisi after the ruling party, Georgian Dream, suspended negotiations on accession to the European Union. Among the arrested were 10 foreigners, including a Belarusian man who fled to Lithuania to avoid deportation to Russia.

On November 30, 25-year-old Yevgeny Muravitsky was detained in an anti-government protest in the Georgian capital. Authorities filed a case against the Belarusian national for "insulting a special forces soldier." Muravitsky spent two days in a prison in the city of Sighnaghi. 

After Muravitsky was released, immigration authorities summoned him. On December 2, four officers went looking for him at his residence. The next day, Muravitsky applied for asylum. Belarussian human rights activist Roman Kysliak said, "The risk existed that he would be captured and taken to the border with Russia and sent there."

Despite being allowed to request international protection, the Belarussian man decided to leave Georgia for his own safety. Human rights activists from Belarus managed to get Muravitsky out of Georgia by obtaining a single-entry visa from the Lithuanian Embassy in one day.

In Georgia, more than 350 people are being held on administrative charges and 26 on criminal charges. According to human rights activists, more than 300 detainees were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. Eighty protesters required hospitalization after being detained.

You Might Also Like

Vetting Russians in Georgia
  • June 03, 2022

Vetting Russians in Georgia

Georgians welcome Russians fleeing their country, but only if they don't support the war in Ukraine.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

Life Stories: Original Fiction By Russian Authors

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

Faith & Humor: Notes from Muscovy

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955