Russian National Arrested in Georgia for Damaging Police Vehicle Amid Ongoing Protests

Authorities in Georgia, located in the South Caucasus, announced on Monday that they have apprehended a Russian citizen for allegedly causing damage to a police vehicle during anti-government protests that occurred last week.

The individual, referred to only by the initials D.K., born in 1995, reportedly escaped the location while wearing a mask after deliberately vandalizing the vehicle last Friday in Tbilisi. According to the police statement, if found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to three years.

He is at least the ninth Russian national to be detained in Georgia in recent months, as reported by the independent news source RusNews. Among those arrested, two individuals are facing life sentences due to drug possession charges.

In December, the Kremlin stated that it had no information regarding the Russian protesters detained in Georgia, but claimed they had «obviously» breached Georgian law by assaulting law enforcement officials.

As per the news outlet Civil Georgia, 49 protesters are currently incarcerated on criminal charges stemming from near-daily demonstrations against the ruling Georgian Dream party that began in the fall.

Critics have accused the party — now in its fourth consecutive term after winning disputed parliamentary elections in October — of undermining democracy and drawing the country closer to Russia.

In November, Georgian Dream announced that it would delay negotiations for EU membership until 2028.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has emerged as a key refuge for Russians fleeing political oppression and the ramifications of conflict in their homeland.