**British Journalist Denied Entry into Georgia, Sparking International Outcry**
A British journalist has been denied entry into Georgia, a country he has called home since 2022. Will Neal was refused entry upon his return from a trip to the United Kingdom and the European Union, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This decision is being condemned as arbitrary and political, with RSF calling for its reversal.
Neal’s expulsion comes after a smear campaign led by pro-government politicians and media outlets in response to his investigations into Georgian power circles. In April 2024, he published an investigation detailing business ties between a UK private equity group and EU-sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. This sparked a wave of criticism from high-ranking Georgian Dream officials and pro-government media outlets, who labeled him as a “Soros agent” involved in a conspiracy against Georgia’s sovereignty.
This incident is not an isolated one. A pattern of activists, journalists, human rights defenders, politicians, and other foreigners have been denied entry to Georgia, with most receiving the vague explanation that it was due to “other cases provided by Georgian legislation.” Neal is now stranded in Yerevan, Armenia, and no longer has access to his personal belongings left behind in Tbilisi.
**A New Stage in Repression of Foreign Journalists**
The head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Desk, Jeanne Cavelier, condemned the ban as “politically motivated” and a rejection of any independent journalistic scrutiny of power structures. She also urged British authorities to hold the Georgian government accountable for this violation of one of Neal’s rights as a British citizen.
This incident follows a similar case on May 21, where an EU diplomat was turned away at Tbilisi International Airport. While officials claimed it was a technical problem, critics have raised concerns amid the Georgian Dream government’s increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Western diplomats.
**A Broader Trend of Repression**
The denial of entry to foreign journalists and activists in Georgia is part of a broader trend of repression. A French photojournalist and a Belarusian activist were also denied entry into the country earlier this year, sparking international condemnation. The RSF’s statement highlights the Georgian government’s rejection of independent scrutiny and its increasing hostility toward Western diplomats.
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