Giorgi Kinoiani, a 29-year-old Georgian citizen wanted by the Russian Federation, was released after spending 36 days in custody, according to the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA-Vanadzor).
“The case was unusual in that Kinoiani, a citizen of Georgia, was being sought by non-democratic Russia based on a conviction from the so-called court of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic,’” the statement said.
His release was granted on the basis of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a state where they may face persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations.
The rights group credited the outcome to the joint efforts of its legal team and Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, particularly the Migration and Citizenship Service.
Kinoiani was arrested on September 3 at the Armenia–Georgia border under the CIS Chisinau Convention and was detained by court order on September 6 for 40 days. Russia had issued a warrant accusing him of mercenary activity.
Another Georgian citizen, Vano Sabashvili, who fought in Ukraine’s armed forces and is also wanted by Russia, was detained upon entering Armenia in early September. He had been previously sentenced in absentia by a Donetsk court for participating in combat on Ukraine’s side. Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office is currently reviewing his extradition case.
