Civilnet
By Alexander Pracht
Armenian border guards detained 29-year-old Georgian citizen Giorgi Kinoiani last week after he crossed into Armenia from Georgia, his family told Radio Free Europe’s Georgian service. He is wanted by Russia for allegedly fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine and has been placed in 40-day extradition custody.
“Armenian border guards stopped him and detained him on the spot because, as I was told, a message popped up on their computer saying that Giorgi was wanted by Russia and that his detention was requested,” his brother, Vako Kinoiani, said.
He added that Giorgi was first taken to a police station, then to a detention facility, and on Friday evening a court ordered his temporary custody pending possible extradition.
Kinoiani’s family fears that if extradited to Russia, he could face inhumane or even life-threatening treatment. According to his brother, Russian authorities have already been notified of the detention, and Moscow now has 40 days to formally request his extradition.
Armenia’s Interior Ministry confirmed Kinoiani’s arrest to Radio Free Europe, saying his case had been reported to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Justice Ministry, and the Russian Federation as the initiating party of the search.
A court in Russian-occupied Donetsk issued an arrest warrant for Kinoiani in October 2024. He is now facing seven years in prison on charges of “mercenary activity.” Russia accuses him of having fought in Ukraine alongside the Georgian Legion, a volunteer unit that includes other Georgian citizens wanted by Moscow.
Kinoiani’s family has appealed to the government in Tbilisi, warning that “Georgia must not allow this” and urging authorities to secure his return. Georgian lawmakers said state institutions were monitoring the case, while stressing that Armenia and Russia both have bilateral extradition treaties that could complicate the situation.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Armenia has consistently refused to extradite Russian nationals wanted on political charges to Moscow. It remains unclear whether Yerevan will apply the same approach in Kinoiani’s case.
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