Georgian Fighter Faces Extradition from Armenia to Russia

Against the backdrop of the Russian-Ukrainian war, another disturbing issue has emerged that also directly concerns Armenia. Vano Sabashvili, a Georgian citizen who fought in Ukraine, faces extradition from Armenia to Russia. Sabashvili, who served in the Georgian armed forces for eight years and fought in the international legion during the initial phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war, was unaware that Moscow had declared him internationally wanted.

On September 9, he made a short trip to Armenia, crossed the Georgian-Armenian border without hindrance, and was arrested on the Armenian side. He was sentenced in absentia by a court of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic."

This is not an isolated case: another Georgian citizen, Giorgi Kinoyan, has been in custody in Armenia for several weeks, also arrested at Russia's request and awaiting a court decision on his extradition.