A Russian convicted in Georgia has gone on hunger strike after being placed in solitary confinement.

Russian citizen Denis Kulanin, sentenced to two years in prison after participating in protests in Tbilisi, complained about the conditions in the punishment cell and went on a hunger strike in protest.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", 30-year-old Russian citizen Denis Kulanin was detained on March 28, 2025, on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi and taken into custody on charges of damaging a police car during a protest. In court, he apologized for his actions and admitted guilt. In early June, the court sentenced him to two years in prison. Denis Kulanin's name is included in the list of political prisoners in Georgia.

A letter from Denis Kulanin from Gldani Prison was published today on social media by blogger Natia Tokhadze. In the letter, dated February 17, the convicted Russian citizen announced that he had been on a hunger strike since February 13, protesting the violation of his rights.

According to Kulanin, he was placed in solitary confinement, deprived of phone calls and meetings with his lawyer. As of February 17, he had been in solitary confinement for ten days in a row without hygiene products, soap, a toothbrush, or toothpaste.

“They're keeping me in a cell with no fresh air, on a dirty mattress without even a pillow, on the floor, not even on a bed... You can't get through to the administration, and if they approach, it's always 'Everything is forbidden.' I refused to lie on the dirty mattress and lay down on the cell floor, taking off all my clothes. I lay there for four hours, asking for at least one call to my lawyer. Naturally, no one fulfilled this request. They're still keeping me in isolation from everyone. On the 10th day, they gave me a toothbrush and toothpaste, only after my lawyer was allowed in,” writes Kulanin.

The prisoner claims he had a conflict with the prison administration: during a search of his cell on February 8, Kulanin, according to him, "politely asked" them not to throw his things around.

“They started throwing mugs at the cell, and the most offensive thing was that they tore an A4 EU flag off the cell door. After that, I kicked the door and demanded it back. I was refused, insulted in Georgian, and then forcibly pulled out of the cell and taken to a punishment cell without any explanation or documentation. They didn’t tell me how many days I had to lie on the floor,” the prisoner said.

Kulanin noted that all prisoners face similar treatment and that such abuses by the administration are “increasingly common.”

“Currently, February 17th, I have been on a hunger strike since February 13th because they won’t return me to my cell and my rights are being violated,” he wrote.

Also today, Natia Tokhadze received and published another letter from Kulanin, dated today, February 24th. In it, the prisoner did not say whether he was continuing his hunger strike or whether he had been returned to his cell from the detention center.

“I want to ask all Ukrainians for forgiveness for my homeland, although I know my words will not help anyone and will not change anything. Forgive us that our people allowed this to happen. I have been and will be with you with all my heart,” Denis Kulanin wrote in his new message.