16:58, 12 May 2023

Journalist from Chechnya claims discrimination in Georgia

Zhalaudi Geriev. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the "Caucasian Knot"

Zhalaudi Geriev, a former "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, intends to appeal against the decision of Georgian border guards, who refused to let him into the country. Zhalaudi, a native of Chechnya, links the refusal with discrimination by his origin, noting that other residents of Northern Caucasus are also facing the same problem.

For many years, the "Caucasian Knot" has been recording cases of non-admission of North-Caucasian residents to Georgia. In 2014 and 2015, residents of Chechnya, Bekhan Gelgoev and Zhalaudi Geriev, as well as Aslan Khadjiev, a doctor from Ingushetia, reported this problem. In 2017, Khamzat Chumakov, an Imam, was not allowed to enter Georgia for medical treatment, despite his agreement with the clinic.

In September 2016, Zhalaudi Geriev was found guilty of possessing marijuana and sentenced to three years in colony. The journalist had stated that the drugs were planted on him. Geriev was recognized as a political prisoner; despite the obvious signs of fabrication of his case, he spent the entire term in colony. Before his arrest, he was kidnapped and tortured.

According to Geriev, he flew to Tbilisi from Budapest on May 6, and a border guard took his documents for additional examination, drawing attention to his birthplace indicated in the passport. Later, he was told that he would not be allowed into Georgia. He treated the border guards' behaviour as discriminatory, the "Formulanews" reports.

Zhalaudi Geriev has noted that his colleagues who are critical of the Russian authorities are also denied entry to Georgia, the "Ekho Kavkaza"* outlet reports.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 11, 2023 at 02:56 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot