Tinatin Bokuchava, Chairperson of the United National Movement, stated that she was obstructed at Tbilisi International Airport. However, after she began recording the incident, she was allowed to pass through the border and managed to fly to Vilnius to attend the European People’s Party (EPP) Political Assembly.
According to Bokuchava, “an iron curtain may soon descend on Georgia’s borders, and we may ultimately find ourselves in a dictatorship.”
“I’m flying to Vilnius for the European People’s Party (EPP) Political Assembly. At Tbilisi airport, I was stopped at the border and not allowed to leave. After a long wait, I was directed to another representative of the border department at a different location, who, after further delay, told me: ‘You have a fine, you know that, right?’ I was aware of one fine, but it turns out there was another one issued in April. The regime suddenly remembered this in October at the border, even though in the last two months alone, I’ve left the country 6-7 times to advocate for the non-recognition, delegitimization, and sanctioning of Ivanishvili’s regime.
In short, they deliberately delayed me to make me miss boarding. The final boarding call warning was already sounding. The police arrived, and I explained that my freedom was being unlawfully restricted. I started recording, they got nervous, said, ‘Alright, alright,’ and finally let me through.
Along with banning parties and individuals, the regime is also considering banning people from leaving the country and is already taking test steps in this direction, as it seems. While Moldova and Ukraine are rapidly moving toward EU membership, and even Armenia may seek candidate status, an iron curtain may soon descend on Georgia’s borders, and we may ultimately find ourselves in a dictatorship. Will we continue with public mutual insults, mockery, and criticism, or will we unite, those of us who are genuinely fighting the regime? For me, this is the only relevant question today. Will we unite? We will win—and very soon. If not? A dictatorship will be established in the country, and soon we won’t even be able to cross the border, or if we do, it will be forever,” Bokuchava wrote.
Tinatin Bokuchava: I was detained at Tbilisi airport and not allowed to leave – will we continue mutual insults or unite? Otherwise, a dictatorship will be established, and we won’t even be able to cross the border, or if we do, it will be forever
