Georgian border guards did not let Pussy Riot member Veronika Nikulshina and Project journalist Ekaterina Arenina into the country, the girls told The Insider about this. In just the past two weeks, six Russian journalists and activists have faced an entry ban, writes the Agency.
“They didn’t let me in on November 1 early in the morning. The border guards themselves did not substantiate their refusal. I was at the Tbilisi airport, waiting at the border for about two hours. The border guard simply told me: “Unfortunately, today you do not pass.” In the document, the reason for the refusal was marked “Other”. I don’t know why they don’t let me in, but I think this, of course, is connected with political, activist activities, ”Nikulshina told The Insider.
At the same time, she has a long-term apartment rental agreement in Georgia – for six months in advance.
Project journalist Arenina was not allowed into Georgia on 14 November.
“I flew to Georgia, gave my passport to the border guard. She saw something in her computer, changed her face, started sending messages to someone. We stood silently with her for ten minutes. Then I was asked to wait, and after forty minutes a man came up and said that I was forbidden to enter Georgia. In the document, the column “Other” is marked as the reason for refusal. As usual, nothing is clear. I was sent back on the same plane that I flew in, ”Arenina told The Insider.
According to the Agency, since the beginning of November, Georgia has not allowed in six Russian journalists and activists, including Mediazona editorial manager Gala Latygovskaya. She flew to the country on November 2, the border guards did not give her any notification: “I waited 50 minutes [at the border control]. A man ran up to me and asked what flight I had taken. I said Turkish Airlines. He started up and said: “So, faster, faster, faster, you will fly back now!”
Georgia has not allowed dozens of Russians into the country. Among them are activists, journalists, those fleeing Russia due to security threats, and opposition figures. In particular, Alexei Navalny's associate Lyubov Sobol, politician Dmitry Gudkov, and Pussy Riot member Olga Borisova could not enter the country.
Russian-Georgian political analyst and columnist Yegor Kuroptev noted in a conversation with The Insider that the refusals are related to the country's unwillingness to let high-profile figures into the territory, while otherwise Russian oppositionists can find refuge in Georgia.
The Insider wrote that Georgian border guards also refuse entry to Crimeans with Russian passports issued on the peninsula after its annexation, and with passports in which the place of birth is defined as "Crimea, Russia", even if people have been living in the territory of the Russian Federation for many years. At least four such cases are known. In one person, they were informed that they were included in some lists of those who were prohibited from entering the country.