Journalist and activist from Belarus Andrei Meleshko was denied entry to Georgia. He had lived in Batumi for three years due to political persecution in his home country.
Andrei and his daughter were detained at the Kutaisi airport after arriving from Poland. Their passports were confiscated. Border police refused to give reasons for the entry denial. The detainees are planned to be sent back to Poland. The journalist's wife and second child remain in Georgia.
Earlier, Georgia denied international protection to Belarusian human rights activist Roman Kislyak and athlete Marina Zelenaya (Kalinina). According to Kislyak, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs acknowledged that he meets the criteria of the Geneva Convention and the law on international protection, but noted that his stay in the country may "contrary to the interests of the country." The human rights activist believes that the Georgian government is seeking to get rid of politically active Belarusians living in the country.
