Russia Declares Batumi-Based Russian Group 'Undesirable'
By Messenger Staff
Monday, August 17, 2026
Russia has designated Russians in Batumi, an association of Russian citizens based in Batumi, as an "undesirable organisation."
The group was founded in March 2022. It organized anti-war rallies and provided assistance to Ukrainian refugees living in Batumi.
SOTA spoke with the group's founder, Anastasia Bukovsky, who has since moved to Spain. She said the decision may be connected to legal cases opened against her.
"I received the materials of one of the cases and it turns out that law enforcement officers have been monitoring us, at least since 2023," Bukovsky said.
One of the cases against her was opened over a 2023 social media post under an article concerning a "public appeal against state security."
Bukovsky also warned people in Russia who had donated money to the organisation or otherwise supported it that they could face risks if they remain in the country.
SOTA reported that Russians in Batumi had stopped organising protest rallies in recent months, saying the new leadership of the Batumi police had effectively prevented them from taking place.
The publication also claimed Georgian special services had blocked an online video meeting with a representative of the Russian Freedom Legion.
