Iran’s Embassy Confirms Reports of Iranian Citizens Being Deported at Georgia’s Entry Points
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tbilisi has implicitly confirmed reports of the deportation of a number of Iranian citizens at Georgia’s entry points and stated that it is following up on this matter “through diplomatic channels.”
The embassy’s statement, reflected in domestic media on Sunday evening, December 2, indicates that it has received “repeated reports” about “unusual deportations of Iranian nationals at various borders of Georgia, particularly in recent days.”
The Farsi News Agency (FARS) reported on the same day that Georgia had been deporting Iranian travelers from Tbilisi Airport or its borders for the past month, with the process intensifying over the past week, reaching 46 Iranian citizens by the evening of December 1.
The news agency reported that “18 of these individuals arrived at Tbilisi Airport on Friday morning on a Qeshm Air flight” and “had both return tickets and travel insurance,” but ultimately Georgian government officials sent them back to Iran from the airport.
The report suggests that the election of Salome Zourabichvili as Georgia’s new president may have played a role in this event, stating that “her anti-immigration policies” have intensified this process.
Georgia does not require Iranian citizens to obtain entry visas, and Iranians can typically stay in the country for up to 45 days without a residence permit. As a result, Georgia has become one of the main tourism destinations for Iranians in recent years.
FARS further reported, citing eyewitnesses, that “Georgian police officers, in the entry queue at the airport, randomly selected some individuals, took their passports, and took these individuals to interrogation rooms, and after questioning and without looking at the documents accompanying the person, informed them that they cannot enter and must return to Iran.”
The report also mentioned the actions of Georgian female officers in conducting body searches of Iranian female travelers “at the highest level,” reporting that these searches were carried out “under the pretext of carrying narcotics.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s Embassy in Tbilisi emphasized that “based on its inherent responsibility in protecting the dignity of our citizens and the material and spiritual assets of our compatriots, it has taken appropriate measures on its agenda.”
Iran’s Embassy in Tbilisi also stated that “it had previously, through correspondence and in multiple negotiations, demanded clarification of laws and regulations and clear accountability to affected and damaged individuals.”
The embassy ultimately expressed hope that through “constructive interaction and cooperation between the two sides,” circumstances would progress toward ensuring mutual interests of both parties.
In mid-October of this year, the Serbian government revoked the visa-free travel exemption for Iranians to the country. Belgrade cited the reason for this decision as attempts by some Iranians to enter the European Union illegally through Serbia or by applying for asylum.
Source: Radio Farda
