Armenian MP denied entry into Georgia

Zaruhi Postanjyan, a leader of the Armenian opposition party ‘Yerkir Tsirani’ (the Country of Apricots) was barred from entering Georgia.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported that the Armenian opposition figure had no problem crossing the Armenian section of the border at the ‘Bavra’ border crossing point. However, the border guards at the Ninotsminda Georgian border crossing point told her she was not allowed to enter the territory of Georgia.

Postanjyan and her fellow party members were traveling to Akhaltsikhe where they were expected to meet with representatives of the Armenian community.

As Zaruhi Postanjyan told RFE/RL’s Armenia service, despite her insistence the border guards didn’t specify the reason why she was denied entry. Postanjyan assumes that the Georgian side did so by request of the Armenian government.

•  Zaruhi Postanjyan is one of the few Armenian MPs who openly criticize Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

•  In 2015, Zaruhi Postanjyan and her associates held a protest rally in Tbilisi during the opening ceremony of an Armenian church which was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder of the ‘Georgian Dream’ party.