The recent clampdown against Georgians in Russia follows a diplomatic feud that erupted with Georgia's brief detention of Russian officers on spying charges in September; tensions had already been strained over bans on imports of certain Georgian goods, and disputes over Russia's presence in Georgia's conflict zones.
"Administrative and legal measures applied [against Georgians] are unfounded: businesses employing ethnic Georgians are being closed down, visas and registration papers legally obtained by Georgian nationals are being cancelled, people are being illegally detained and deported from Russia," the Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, headed by Ella Pamfilova, said in an open statement.
Russia has imposed a postal and transport blockade on its economically-dependent ex-Soviet neighbor, shut down several casinos and restaurants in Moscow allegedly owned by the Georgian mafia, and arrested suspected Georgian crime bosses.
According to official data, Russian courts have ruled to deport about 1,430 Georgian citizens since September, citing violations of migration legislation.
The European Union has urged Russia to lift its economic sanctions against the small South Caucasus country, but Russia has so far dismissed the calls.
"I cannot approve of selective actions on ethnic grounds," Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a televised Q&A session on October 25, answering a question on measures against Georgian criminal groups in Russia. "On the contrary, I call on law enforcement agencies to abstain from such actions, and I consider them inadmissible."
But he said anti-crime measures must be conducted constantly, while the actions taken against Georgian criminals happened to stand out because of the attention the diplomatic row attracted.
He said Russian authorities deported 15,300 illegal immigrants from one of the former Soviet republics, about 13,400 people from another and only 5,000 illegal immigrants from Georgia.
"Consequently, talking about selective actions against Georgians is incorrect and untrue," the president said.
However, the Russian human rights group said the anti-Georgian campaign "clearly arose as a consequence of a skewed understanding of general political statements made by the countries' leaders with regard to issues of relations between Russia and Georgia, which were taken in certain quarters as an instruction for action with regard to organization of persecution against persons of Georgian ethnicity."
The document also said, "such selective persecution is incompatible with the constitutional principles of a state of law, represents unacceptable discrimination, and cannot be seen as lawful method of combating illegal migration."
"We call on the Russian authorities to immediately take the necessary measures to restore legality, humanitarian principles and respect for rights and liberties with regard to all residents of our country," the group said.
