I’m Patrick Lancaster, independent journalist and war correspondent. Just days before Georgia’s local elections and a promised “peaceful revolution” by the opposition, I was officially denied entry at the Georgian border.
After waiting 4.5 hours with my wife, border police handed me a paper refusing entry under vague “cases Envisaged by Georgian legislation.” No questions, no interview, no interrogation—only a denial.
This raises serious concerns about freedom of press and freedom of speech in Georgia.
Why now, right before the elections?
Was this decision pushed by the government or the opposition?
What does this mean for democracy and media freedom in Georgia?
I’ve reported from Georgia many times before—covering protests in Tbilisi, showing both sides of the divide: those who want closer ties with Europe and those who support the current government. This time, I wasn’t even allowed in.
Credit to : Patrick Lancaster
