The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) has issued a statement regarding the detention of two Russian nationals, following a court’s ruling that they crossed the Georgian border unlawfully.

According to the Ministry, the Border Police Department is currently handling dozens of criminal cases related to illegal migration into Georgia over recent years.

The Ministry emphasises that combating criminal migration remains a priority, with ongoing operational and investigative efforts focused on this issue.

“As part of these measures, and in accordance with a court order, two Russian citizens, Vladimir Dubovsky and Alina Savelyeva, have been detained on charges of illegal border crossing in a group,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, the investigation revealed that the suspects entered Georgia unlawfully, bypassing border controls, and have been residing illegally in the country for the past three years.

Moreover, both Dubovsky and Savelyeva had repeatedly applied for asylum through the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Still, their applications were refused as they did not meet the necessary criteria.

“They appealed the decision to two courts, both of which upheld the Migration Department’s ruling. Ultimately, on November 12, 2025, the court issued an order for their arrest, leading law enforcement officers to detain them as defendants.

The detainees are now being transferred to a pre-trial detention facility. The investigation is ongoing under Part 2 of Article 344 of the Criminal Code,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs added.