His partner told Kyiv Independent that he is currently being detained at the airport, and should be deported within two days.
Georgians will vote on October 26. Last weekend, thousands of people rallied in Tbilisi to show their support for EU membership despite the democratic backsliding of the ruling Georgian Dream Party and its Moscow-friendly policies.
Baseley, a journalist who the Kyiv Independent had agreed to commission for stories about the Georgian elections on October 22, wrote on X that he was refused entry upon his arrival by plane.
Baseley wrote: “I was denied entry to the country of Georgia today at 19:30 without any reason or further explanation. This is unacceptable. Even the local border forces don’t know why I was not allowed entry.”
He posted a picture of the form refusing entry on social media. The document does explain the reason for the refusal, but only states that “Other cases envisaged in Georgian legislation” are grounds for the decision.
Baseley holds Czech citizenship.
Hello Georgians. Journalists. And Czechs. I was denied entry to Georgia today at 19:30 without any explanation or reason. This is unacceptable. Even the local border guards don’t know the reason. Please contact me if you can help. pic.twitter.com/4HGh3xY9ma– RayBaseley (@RayBaseley) October 22, 2024
The Kyiv Independent reported the next day that the journalist’s partner Ukrainian Maria Kaplina had told them that Georgian authorities had taken Baseley, and that she was no longer in contact with him.
Kaplina contacted him the next day, after Baseley had been allowed to call.
The current situation is that Ray remains in the Tbilisi Airport. No one told him why he was being deported or kept there.
“This is an illegal act, and they keep him there for over 17 hours. A lawyer and the (Czech speaking) consul are now working to gain access to the facility that is holding him. Authorities are preparing him to be deported in two days.”
A spokesperson for the Czech Foreign Ministry told the Kyiv independent that Prague is aware and has contacted Georgian authorities about the case.
“Our consul has been in contact with Baseley’s loved ones and sent an official letter to the Georgian Foreign Ministry requesting information on his current location, as well as the reason for his detention, and his denial of entry,” said spokesperson Daniel Drake.
Baseley, a journalist based in Prague, has also covered Russia‘s conflict with Ukraine as a freelancer reporter.
Baseley reported previously on protests that erupted in Tbilisi in the spring following the adoption of the “foreign agent” law by the ruling Georgian Dream Party.
The legislation, which was compared to one in Russia, targeted NGOs and media groups that received funding from abroad. Its adoption was viewed as a sign of the Georgian Dream’s deterioration in media freedom and democratic backsliding.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com