Entering neutral zone makes Insa Lander dependent on Georgian authorities

Insa Lander, a blogger from Kabardino-Balkaria, who escaped from house arrest to Georgia, but got stuck on neutral zone between the countries, has no right to leave for a third country without the permission of the Georgian authorities. This was noted by experts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot”.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Insa Oguz, a blogger from Baksan, known under the pseudonym Insa Lander, escaped from house arrest. On June 12, the blogger tried to leave for Georgia through North Ossetia, but Georgian border guards did not let her through, and the blogger remained on the neutral zone between the two countries. On June 16, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) explained that the Georgian laws allow denying entry for those who are being prosecuted for terrorism.

The extradition of Insa Lander from Georgia to Russia is impossible due to the lack of extradition agreements, emphasizes advocate Yevgeny Chernousov, who is not involved in the Insa Lander’s case.

“Extradition is possible only if there is a bilateral agreement on extradition. And if there is no such agreement, as in this case, then there is no base for extradition either. The same applies to [staying in] neutral zone,” Yevgeny Chernousov told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

According to Yevgeny Chernousov, to travel to a third country, Insa Lander now needs permission from the Georgian authorities. “As Georgia decides, so it will be,” the advocate said.

Since the blogger stays in the neutral zone, she cannot enter a third country without the Georgia’s permission, Vladimir Novitsky, the president of the Russian section of the International Society for Human Rights, also points out. “A third country cannot invite or somehow evacuate a person from the neutral zone. There are two options for the blogger: either to wait until Georgia lets her in, or to return to Russia,” Vladimir Novitsky said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 20, 2022 at 10:59 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.