18:56, 3 February 2026

Former Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Convicted in Absentia of Mercenary Activity

A Russian court in Donetsk sentenced former Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze in absentia to 6.5 years for participating in hostilities on the Ukrainian side.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, in early December 2025, former Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister and political secretary of the United National Movement, Giorgi Baramidze, became a defendant in an absentee criminal case for mercenarism, which was heard by a Russian court in Donetsk.

Russian courts have repeatedly sentenced Georgian citizens in absentia on charges related to participating in hostilities against Russian troops in Ukraine. Thus, in July, Zurab Karchava was sentenced in absentia to 6.5 years in prison. In November 2024, sentences in absentia were handed down to four fighters of the Georgian National Legion*.

According to the investigation and the court, in February 2022, Baramidze voluntarily joined the Ukrainian armed forces as a mercenary. There, he underwent military training to acquire skills in handling combat weapons, strategy, tactics, and combat techniques.

For financial compensation, Baramidze participated in combat operations against security forces of the DPR and LPR, and Russian military personnel, until April 2022, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee's information center reported today on its Telegram channel.

Georgian Legion commander Mamuka Mamulashvili previously stated that Georgian citizens had joined several Ukrainian units. The website of the "Georgian Legion," commanded by Mamulashvili, makes no mention of any official status within the Ukrainian Armed Forces; it is referred to as a "military volunteer formation."

Georgiy Baramidze was found guilty of mercenary activity and sentenced in absentia to 6.5 years in a maximum security penal colony. He has been placed on the international wanted list, the department clarified.

Georgiy Baramidze himself stated that he "never hid the time he spent in Kyiv and is proud of it," Pirveli TV reported today.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the Russian Investigative Committee in July reported on the in absentia sentencing of another Georgian citizen named Georgiy Baramidze. The 41-year-old man was sentenced in absentia to 14 years on charges of mercenarism.

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Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/420487