Ukrainians expelled from Russia are staging a hunger strike at the Georgia border as part of a growing protest against their forced displacement. The detainees include former prisoners who were deported after completing their sentences and civilians expelled for opposing Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The group is seeking asylum in Georgia, which has been a key transit point for many fleeing Russia’s war efforts.
Protesters have been camped at the border for several days, refusing food and water to draw attention to their plight. The hunger strike is intended to pressure both Russian and Georgian authorities to allow the expelled Ukrainians to return to their homeland or be granted refugee status. Many of the detainees have families in Ukraine, and their prolonged detention has raised concerns among human rights organizations.
Georgia, which has been a critical ally of Ukraine, has faced pressure from Russia to prevent further migration flows. The country has also been accused of not doing enough to assist those stranded at the border. Analysts say the hunger strike reflects the broader humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion and the subsequent displacement of millions of Ukrainians.