Arsen Kharatyan's Entry to Georgia Again Prohibited

The founder of Alik Media, Arsen Kharatyan, has once again been denied entry to Georgia. Kharatyan posted on his Facebook page that he was detained by the Georgian border authorities for four hours.

“On September 16, when I was returning to Tbilisi from Europe, the Georgian border authorities again denied me entry to the country. This time they detained me for four hours and then put me on a plane back to Europe. I had a return ticket from Tbilisi to Yerevan for September 18, but I was told that according to Georgian legislation, if a person is denied entry, they must be sent back to the departing country,” Kharatyan wrote.

According to Kharatyan, no explanation for his entry ban has been provided by any Georgian agency. He believes this is politically motivated. “I have no doubt that this entry denial, essentially an expulsion, is politically motivated, which ultimately means that the Georgian authorities either fear people like me or have sponsors from Moscow or Baku who are asking them to ‘clear the area’ before the elections. Six weeks before the parliamentary elections, the ruling Georgian Dream party seems to be gaining new enemies rather than seeking new friends with such actions. It is clear to me: I will return to Georgia, and it will be very soon,” Kharatyan stated.

It is noteworthy that a similar incident occurred almost a week earlier when, without stating the reason, the Georgian Interior Ministry's border police informed Arsen Kharatyan at the airport that his entry to Georgia was prohibited, but two hours later he was allowed entry.