The Media Advocacy Coalition: the restriction of the rights of another Ukrainian journalist in Georgia alarming

19 November 2021

Yesterday, on 18 November, 2021, it was reported [1] that Ukrainian journalist and blogger Vladimir Zolkin was not allowed to enter Georgia. According to the journalist, he had the necessary documents to cross the border and planned to prepare materials on the plight of Mikheil Saakashvili. It is important to note that border guards failed to explain the reasons for the entry refusal to the journalist.

This is not the first time that Ukrainian journalists have been refused entry to Georgia. On 27 October [2], journalist Dmitry Gordon and his wife, editor Alesia Batsman, were denied entry to Georgia. The  Media Advocacy Coalition calls on the Georgian Government to respect the freedom of movement of journalists and the right of Ukrainian journalists to carry out their professional duties on the territory of Georgia. At the same time, the Coalition considers it important for the authorities to provide appropriate and timely explanations for the interruption of journalists at the Georgian border.

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