2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia

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2006 deportation of Georgians from Russia refers to a displacement of hundreds of citizens of Georgia by the government of Russia after the 2006 Georgia-Russia crisis.[1]

The charges against Georgian citizens were that they did not have documents in order and Russian side saw the process as law enforcement towards illegal immigrants,[1] whereas the Georgian government accused Russia of mid-ethnic cleansing.[2]

Two citizens of Georgia died in Moscow awaiting deportation including Tenghiz Togonidze, who had asthma and the death was caused by not treating his chronic disease.[3] 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. [4]

In its January 2007 survey, the influential U.S.-based NGO Freedom House also accused the Russian authorities of "tolerating and encouraging the mistreatments of immigrants from Georgia and other Caucasus countries."[5]

On October 1, 2007, the Human Rights Watch released its own report documenting "the Russian government's arbitrary and illegal detention and expulsion of Georgians, including many who legally lived and worked in Russia." The HRW reported 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."[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Georgians deported as row deepens", BBC, 6 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. 
  2. ^ "Georgia chides Russia 'cleansing'", BBC, 7 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. 
  3. ^ "Georgian Awaiting Deportation Dies", Moscow Times, October 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-22. 
  4. ^ Georgian deportee dies in Moscow. BBC
  5. ^ FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2007:FREEDOM STAGNATION AMID PUSHBACK AGAINST DEMOCRACY, The Freedom House. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
  6. ^ Russia Targets Georgians for Expulsion. The Human Rights Watch. October 1, 2007.