Belarusian journalist Andrei Mialeshka barred from re-entering Georgia after years of residency
Last night Andrei was returning to Georgia from Poland with his daughter, but he was not allowed to enter the country at the airport in Kutaisi. The journalist shared this on social media.
Andrei Mialeshka has been living in Georgia for the past three years, as he faced political persecution in Belarus and was forced to leave the country. According to the journalist, the Georgian border guards did not explain the reason for denying him entry into the country.
The journalist told Pozirk that he would be deported to Poland on the next flight.
“I have 15 hours to find out why I was denied entry. I don’t understand anything in this document that says ‘other reasons to deny entry,’” Mialeshka said.
Documents issued to Andrei Mialeshka at Kutaisi Airport. Photo: Journalist’s Facebook page
The journalist also says that he and his daughter have been locked in a room and their passports confiscated, so he can’t apply for political asylum, which requires an identity document.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists is closely monitoring the situation. This is not the first case when Belarusians, known for their pro-democracy position, were not allowed to enter Georgia. Civil society connects such actions of the Georgian authorities with the rapprochement of the Georgian political course with Russia.