Russian blogger challenges Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him asylum

Alexei Kungurov, who left Russia because of criminal prosecution, has appealed to court in order to challenge the Georgian authorities’ refusal to grant him political asylum.

In March 2024, Russian human rights defenders pointed out that Georgia and Armenia were no more a reliable refuge for those who left Russia for political reasons. The human rights defenders believe the influence of the Russian special services is high in Georgia and Armenia and there is a risk of extradition to homeland.

Alexei Kungurov is accused of stating on April 15, 2016, while speaking at the “First Congress of People’s Journalism” in the Moscow Region: “Be prepared to become leaders in your own village at the right moment.” Investigators regarded the above words as “calls for a violent seizure of power.”

Lawyer Rusudan Mchedlishvil believes that those accusations against Alexei Kungurov are a violation of the right to freedom of speech.

Alexei Kungurov notes this is already the second criminal case instituted against him in Russia. The first criminal case was opened in 2016 because of his article about the bombing of Russian pilots in Syria. A court sentenced Alexei Kungurov to two years of imprisonment in a penal colony.

Let us remind you that Georgian state border guards often refuse entry to Russian citizens, including journalists and human rights defenders. In February 2024, Russian activist Maxim Ivantsov was not allowed into Georgia. Arbitrary refusals to foreigners of entry to Georgia violate the principle of equality enshrined in the country’s Constitution, states the Georgian “Centre for Social Justice” NGO.

The increasing number of cases of refusals to allow Russian citizens into Georgia can be explained by the authorities’ desire to prevent Russian activists from entering the country, believes Georgian analyst David Avalishvili.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents. On December 29, 2021, by the decision of the Moscow City Court, the Russian legal entities of the “International Memorial” and the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial” were liquidated.