Russian TV presenter Borodina enters Georgia again despite prior violation of Occupation Law

Russian television presenter Ksenia Borodina has arrived in Georgia for the second time, despite previously violating Georgia’s Law on Occupied Territories by entering the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia without permission from the Georgian authorities.
Shortly after her arrival, Borodina published photos on social media from familiar locations in Tbilisi and Batumi.

Borodina is a known supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2018, she joined the Putin Team movement – a pro-Kremlin initiative launched by hockey player Alexander Ovechkin to promote Putin’s leadership.

In 2022, a Georgian journalist confronted Borodina about her unauthorized visit to Abkhazia. She dismissed the concerns, saying – “Did I violate it? Why?.. I don’t know about it. I was nearby, I was traveling with friends, and we went to Abkhazia.”

According to Georgian legislation, foreign citizens are prohibited from entering the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali without prior approval from the Government of Georgia. Violation of this law is punishable under the Criminal Code:

A first offense may result in a fine or imprisonment of 2 to 4 years. A repeated offense is punishable by 3 to 5 years in prison.