Kyiv accuses Russia of leaving Ukrainians stranded at Georgian border

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KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s foreign minister accused Russia on Saturday of deporting Ukrainians into Georgia and leaving them stranded there without proper documents hundreds of miles from their home.

Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians – many of them former prisoners – over the southern frontier, rather than sending them directly over its border with Ukraine.

That amounted to Russia “weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens,” he added on X.

There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has denied accusations of mistreating or targeting civilians since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

“Since June, Russia has significantly increased the number of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly former convicts, to the border with Georgia,” Sybiha wrote.

“As a result, dozens of people, many of whom lack proper documentation, have been stuck in the transit zone.”

Sybiha said 43 citizens, including former political prisoner Andrii Kolomiyets, have been transported from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but more people remain in “difficult conditions” at the border.

Sybiha called on Russia to transport them to the Ukrainian border instead.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had discussed the matter with Sybiha.

“These are Ukrainians released by Russians from prisons and penal colonies in Russia-controlled territory,” Zelenskiy said.

“Ukrainian diplomats are arranging the transit of these citizens of our state back to Ukraine.”

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Andrew Heavens)