**French Journalists Blocked from Entering Georgia: A Blow to Press Freedom**
In a disturbing trend of growing authoritarianism, two French journalists have been denied entry into the country of Georgia. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a global organization that champions press freedom, has reported on this alarming development.
At the center of this controversy are Jérôme Chobeaux and Clément Girardeau, both seasoned journalists who had been working in Georgia for many years. On February 12, Clément was denied entry without any valid reason, despite his extensive experience covering stories in the country. His complaint to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs was rejected, and a court hearing has been scheduled for June 23.
**A Pattern of Intimidation**
RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk head, Jeanne Cavelier, strongly condemned these actions, saying that they are part of a deliberate strategy to intimidate reporters. This pattern is particularly concerning given the recent protests against the controversial elections held on October 26.
One notable incident involved Jérôme Chobeaux, who had been covering the post-election protests in Georgia for over two months before briefly returning to France. When he attempted to re-enter Tbilisi on March 30, he was detained at the airport, held for several hours without access to his phone or luggage, and then deported to Athens. He was asked to pay two fines of 5,000 GEL each without any explanation or justification.
What’s striking is that an officer later told him that he would not be allowed entry “even if he paid,” as the order had come from above. This raises serious concerns about the misuse of power and the suppression of press freedom in Georgia.
**A Shift in Target**
RSF notes that prior to these two French journalists, two other European reporters – Ray Beisly from the Czech Republic and Stéphane Goss from Switzerland – were denied entry to Georgia before the elections. Until now, such entry bans typically targeted journalists expelled from authoritarian countries like Russia and Belarus.
This shift in target suggests a growing willingness by the Georgian government to suppress press freedom, even targeting journalists from Western democracies. RSF urges France and the European Union to put pressure on the Georgian government to uphold its obligations regarding press freedom.
**A Blow to Democracy**
The denial of entry to these two French journalists is a clear blow to democracy and press freedom in Georgia. As RSF rightly points out, this trend of authoritarianism must be stopped, and the rights of journalists to report freely must be respected. The world is watching, and it’s high time for the Georgian government to take action.
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