2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia
Encyclopedia
2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia refers to a controversial displacement of several hundreds of citizens of Georgia
by the government of Russia
during the 2006 Georgia-Russia crisis
.
The charges against those Georgian citizens in question were that they violated Russian immigration law by forgery or illegally obtaining immigration documents. Russian side saw the process as law enforcement towards illegal immigrants, whereas the Georgian government accused Russia of mid-ethnic cleansing
.
Two citizens of Georgia died in Moscow awaiting deportation. Tenghiz Togonidze, 48-year-old Georgian migrant worker died of acute asthma in a Moscow airport as he was awaiting deportation. According to the Georgian Embassy in Moscow, 58 years old Togonidze was denied medical attention for five days of detention despite his requests to see a doctor. The Russian authorities say everything possible was done for Togonidze. Manana Jabelia, Georgian national, living in Russia since the war in Abkhazia
, died of heart attack in custody in Moscow after being detained during the campaign for not having any identity or immigration papers. By that date it was 9 months her passport was processed by Georgian consulate in Moscow in order to change it to a new one.
In its January 2007 survey, the NGO Freedom House
also claimed the Russian authorities "tolerated and encouraged the mistreatment of immigrants from Georgia and other Caucasus
countries."
On October 1, 2007, the Human Rights Watch
released a report on Georgian immigrants in Russia. According to the report, about 1 million immigrants from Georgia legally or illegally reside in Russia, with "the vast majority of migrants working in Russia do so without work permits".
The HRW report said the NGO documented "the Russian government's arbitrary and illegal detention and expulsion of Georgians, including many who legally lived and worked in Russia," and that following the growing political tensions between Russia and Georgia, "Russian authorities began a widespread crackdown on ethnic Georgians, Georgian nationals, and Georgian-owned or Georgian-themed businesses and organizations... Senior government officials disparaged Georgians openly on government-owned TV, and much of Russia’s government-friendly TV and other media followed suit... Police and other authorities denied basic rights to many of the detained" and underscored that "the Russian government’s campaign against Georgians occurred in the context of pervasive racism and xenophobia in Russia."
Georgia sued Russia in the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR), demanding that Moscow reimbursed pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. On July 3, 2009, the ECHR declared that it found Georgia’s complaints against Russia over deportations admissible for hearing and would deliver its judgment "at a later date".
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
by the government of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
during the 2006 Georgia-Russia crisis
2006 Georgian-Russian espionage controversy
The 2006 Georgian–Russian espionage controversy began when the Government of Georgia arrested four Russian officers on charges of espionage, on September 27, 2006...
.
The charges against those Georgian citizens in question were that they violated Russian immigration law by forgery or illegally obtaining immigration documents. Russian side saw the process as law enforcement towards illegal immigrants, whereas the Georgian government accused Russia of mid-ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
.
Two citizens of Georgia died in Moscow awaiting deportation. Tenghiz Togonidze, 48-year-old Georgian migrant worker died of acute asthma in a Moscow airport as he was awaiting deportation. According to the Georgian Embassy in Moscow, 58 years old Togonidze was denied medical attention for five days of detention despite his requests to see a doctor. The Russian authorities say everything possible was done for Togonidze. Manana Jabelia, Georgian national, living in Russia since the war in Abkhazia
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
The War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
, died of heart attack in custody in Moscow after being detained during the campaign for not having any identity or immigration papers. By that date it was 9 months her passport was processed by Georgian consulate in Moscow in order to change it to a new one.
In its January 2007 survey, the NGO Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
also claimed the Russian authorities "tolerated and encouraged the mistreatment of immigrants from Georgia and other Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
countries."
On October 1, 2007, the Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
released a report on Georgian immigrants in Russia. According to the report, about 1 million immigrants from Georgia legally or illegally reside in Russia, with "the vast majority of migrants working in Russia do so without work permits".
The HRW report said the NGO documented "the Russian government's arbitrary and illegal detention and expulsion of Georgians, including many who legally lived and worked in Russia," and that following the growing political tensions between Russia and Georgia, "Russian authorities began a widespread crackdown on ethnic Georgians, Georgian nationals, and Georgian-owned or Georgian-themed businesses and organizations... Senior government officials disparaged Georgians openly on government-owned TV, and much of Russia’s government-friendly TV and other media followed suit... Police and other authorities denied basic rights to many of the detained" and underscored that "the Russian government’s campaign against Georgians occurred in the context of pervasive racism and xenophobia in Russia."
Georgia sued Russia in the European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a supra-national court established by the European Convention on Human Rights and hears complaints that a contracting state has violated the human rights enshrined in the Convention and its protocols. Complaints can be brought by individuals or...
(ECHR), demanding that Moscow reimbursed pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages. On July 3, 2009, the ECHR declared that it found Georgia’s complaints against Russia over deportations admissible for hearing and would deliver its judgment "at a later date".