Georgia: Exiled Belarusian journalist and Armenian journalist denied entry without explanation
On 15 September, Belarusian journalist Andrei Mialeshka was denied entry to Georgia, where he has lived for the past three years after facing political persecution in Belarus. On 17 September, Armenian journalist Arsen Kharatyan, editor-in-chief of an independent non-profit bilingual Georgian-Armenia media platform Aliq Media based in Tbilisi, was also denied entry to Georgia. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) condemn the denial of entry of both journalists and call on the Georgian authorities to uphold freedom of access for all journalists.
Andrei Mialeshka was returning from Poland to Georgia with his daughter and was barred from entering at the airport in Kutaisi, on 15 September. He has been living in Georgia since he was politically persecuted in Belarus and forced to leave the country. On arrival at Kutaisi airport, on 15 September, the journalist was refused entry by Georgian border guards. The official reason for his denial was cited as “other cases envisaged by Georgian legislation.” The journalist reported on his social media that he and his daughter were locked in a room at the airport and had their passports confiscated.
“They will give us our passports back when we go to Poland. They are not saying anything else,” the journalist told the press. Mialeshka further explained he tried to apply for asylum in Georgia, but “there is no way to do this without passports.”
The journalist was sent back to Warsaw, Poland, with his daughter on 16 September, leaving his wife and another child in Georgia.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) immediately supported his case. “BAJ is very concerned about the situation with the non-admission of Belarusian independent journalists to Georgia. Especially when these people have already suffered political persecution in Belarus. This is not the only problematic situation in Georgia. Despite formal openness, Georgia practically does not issue residence permits to independent Belarusian journalists and any well-known Belarusians. And the latest situation with Andrei makes us urge our colleagues to think about leaving Georgia for security reasons. Unfortunately for us, Georgia is no longer a safe country for Belarusian colleagues,” said Barys Haretski, BAJ Deputy chairperson.
On 17 September, Arsen Kharatyan was held up for 4 hours by Georgian border guards and forced to go back to Europe with no explanation. He was denied entry even though he had a ticket for a connecting flight from Tbilisi to Yerevan the next day, 18 September. “No one has explained to me the reason why I was denied entry to Georgia, where I lived for over 5 years, created a media, co-founded various organisations, helped build bridges between Armenia and Georgia,” wrote Kharatyan in his social media.
“Detention of foreign journalists by Georgian border guards has a political character,” reacted Zviad Pochkua, chairman of the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ). “Both journalists were living in Georgia for a long time. These restrictions for journalists to enter the country during the election campaign negatively affect the transparency of these elections. We call on the authorities to lift these restrictions”.
“This is not the first case of journalists not being allowed to enter Georgia without explanation. The IFJ-EFJ have documented around ten cases over the last four years. Georgia must put an end to this practice, which amounts to censorship and compromises the safety of journalists in exile.”
