By Riffat Kausar, Human
Scandinavian News Agency
Aleksandra Delemenchuk, the Ukrainian and Georgian human rights defender who founded Tbilisi Shelter City, has died, according to an announcement from her colleagues on social media. Finn Right International, a rights advocacy group, said it was “deeply saddened” by her passing.
Delemenchuk built Tbilisi Shelter City into a refuge for activists, journalists, and human rights defenders across the region who needed emergency support. Her colleagues said her work went far beyond running an organization, describing her as someone who created a genuine home for people in crisis.
Who Was Aleksandra Delemenchuk?
In a public tribute, colleagues wrote: “There are people who build organizations. And there are those who build a home. Sasha created a home for dozens of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders who, at some point, found themselves without support, without safety, without the strength to carry on.”
The tribute reflects the scope of her work. Tbilisi Shelter City was not a short-term project but a long-running program that grew to serve people fleeing danger across multiple countries and years.
What Was Tbilisi Shelter City?
Tbilisi Shelter City is a program established jointly by the Center for Participation and Development and Truth Hounds, two organizations focused on civil society and human rights documentation. According to the program’s own description, it was created to “help human rights defenders who need temporary respite or emergency assistance.”
The program supported a wide range of people: human rights defenders, civil society activists, lawyers, cultural figures, and journalists. Its original focus was on individuals from Central Asia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and the Caucasus, a region where independent activism can carry significant personal risk.
A Program That Expanded Its Reach
In 2021, Tbilisi Shelter City widened its coverage beyond its founding region. The program began accepting cases from countries across the Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans, reflecting growing demand for safe, temporary shelter among at-risk activists in those areas.
This expansion meant Delemenchuk’s work touched a broader and more diverse group of human rights defenders than the program’s original mandate, reinforcing its role as a regional safety net for civil society figures under threat.
Key Facts
- Aleksandra Delemenchuk founded Tbilisi Shelter City, a shelter program for at-risk human rights defenders
- Her death was announced by colleagues on social media
- Finn Right International issued a public statement of condolence
- Tbilisi Shelter City was co-founded by the Center for Participation and Development and Truth Hounds
- The program expanded in 2021 to cover the Mediterranean, Central/Eastern Europe, and the Balkans
- Aleksandra Delemenchuk
FAQs:
Who was Aleksandra Delemenchuk?
She was a Ukrainian and Georgian human rights defender who founded Tbilisi Shelter City, a program supporting activists, journalists, and rights defenders in danger.
What is Tbilisi Shelter City?
It is a shelter and emergency support program for human rights defenders, established by the Center for Participation and Development and Truth Hounds.
Which countries did the program serve?
Originally Central Asia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and the Caucasus; since 2021 it also covers the Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans.
How did colleagues describe her legacy?
They said she “created a home” for dozens of activists and journalists who lacked support or safety, distinguishing her work from simply running an organization.
Has the Official Cause of Death Been Confirmed?
No official cause of death has been publicly confirmed as of this report.
International Reaction to Her Death
Finn Right International’s statement of condolence was among the public responses following news of Delemenchuk’s death. The organization specifically honored her contributions to supporting human rights defenders and vulnerable activists, without detailing the cause or circumstances of her death.
As of this report, no further official statement detailing the cause of death has been made public, and additional confirmation from Georgian or Ukrainian authorities was not immediately available.
Aleksandra Delemenchuk, founder of Tbilisi Shelter City, and the latest updates surrounding her death.
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