Arsen Kharatyan, the Armenian editor of the Georgian-Armenian media AliQ Media, was denied entry to Georgia without explanation. However, he has been living there for five years.
As Kharatyan himself reported on his social networks, he flew to the country from Luxembourg. His publication is in partnership with the American NED Democracy Fund and the Open Society Georgia branch. Kharatyan was also an adviser to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The official reason for Arsen Kharatyan's detention remains unknown. However, according to unofficial information reported by TV Formula, the founder of the ruling party of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, allegedly had information that the journalist was planning to open a TV channel in the country.
“Georgia has always been and remains my second homeland, and those who know me understand how important this refusal is for me. Now I have no doubt that the denial of entry, that is, deportation, is a political decision, which ultimately means: either the current Georgian authorities are afraid of people like me, or they have patrons in Moscow or Baku who told them to “clear the space” before the elections,” Kharatyan shared.
