Journalist Mikhail Fishman from independent Russian media Dozhd/TV Rain was arbitrarily denied entry to Georgia at Tbilisi International airport. Fishman had flown to the country with his family. No explanation for his refusal to enter the country was given and he was put back on a plane and routed to another country. During the trip, the crew held his passport, which he received back upon arrival. Fishman had been among numerous journalists who fled Russia after the country’s invasion of Ukraine and a crackdown on independent media. Fishman said that he had “one explanation” for why he was denied entry: “Because I am a well-known journalist in Russia. I have no doubt that this occurred because of my work.” On March 3, Dozhd TV announced that it would suspend operations in Russia after authorities blocked its website for spreading “deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel.”

1 case
05.03.2022
Europe: Georgia
Restrictions on access to information: Travel restrictions / access bans