We would like to respond to the information spread regarding the persons in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point "Daryali" and the unfounded accusations made against the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reads the statement, issued by the agency.

"We would like to clarify that 17 persons remain in the so-called neutral zone of the border crossing point "Daryali", among whom there are no women or children.

The persons in the so-called neutral zone claim to be citizens of Ukraine, however do not have valid documents required for crossing the state border and do not meet the criteria for entering the state border of Georgia. In addition, considering the interests of state security, the mentioned individuals are not allowed to enter the country, as they have a criminal record and are convicted of severe or especially grave crimes.

As it’s known to the public, a large number of Ukrainian citizens at the Daryali border crossing point, who expressed their desire to voluntarily return to their homeland, have already left Georgia through a third country as a result of long and multilateral negotiations between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Ukrainian side.

The Georgian side intensively continues negotiations with the Ukrainian side and international organizations on the organized, safe and voluntary return of the 17 individuals, currently in the so-called neutral zone of Daryali. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reiterates readiness to implement all relevant measures within its competence to assist the Ukrainian side in the process of returning the people at the Georgian state border to their homeland.

In addition to the mentioned, we would like to emphasize that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, in coordination with the embassies of the relevant countries in Georgia and representatives of international organizations, provides basic needs to people staying in the "neutral zone"", - reads the statement.