French Photojournalist Denied Entry to Georgia Amid Broader Crackdown on Foreign Press

Hicham El Bouhmidi

French photojournalist Hicham El Bouhmidi was recently denied entry to Georgia, marking him as the latest in a growing number of Western journalists, activists, and human rights defenders to face such restrictions. This incident, which occurred on August 2nd, highlights a concerning pattern of border refusals seemingly targeting individuals critical of the Georgian government.

El Bouhmidi, a member of the photojournalism agency Collectif DR, had been based in Georgia since October 2024, covering significant events including protests in Tbilisi and the government-sanctioned "family purity day." On August 2nd, upon attempting to re-enter Georgia at the Sadakhlo border crossing with Armenia, he was initially informed he had to pay a ₾5,000 ($1,800) fine for "participating in a protest in March." El Bouhmidi told OC Media that border guards did not provide official documents for this fine. He was interrogated by a plainclothes officer who took a photo of his press card and demanded payment.

After a five-hour wait, he received a document stating he was denied entry for "other cases envisaged by the Georgian legislation" — a vague provision frequently used in similar cases. El Bouhmidi, who had regularly visited Georgia since 2022 and even wrote his master's thesis on the country, expressed his frustration, stating, "Expected, yes, but still sad and infuriating." He is now in contact with a legal team and plans to appeal the decision.

El Bouhmidi's experience is not isolated; it's part of a broader trend that has intensified since late November, coinciding with the outbreak of daily anti-government protests following the Georgian government's decision to suspend its EU membership bid. The vague "other cases" justification has been repeatedly cited in these refusals.

Prominent figures denied entry include:

• Marylise Vigneau: A prominent French photographer.

• Jérôme Chobeaux and Clément Girardot: Other French journalists.

• Joost Bosman: A Dutch journalist who had covered developments in Georgia for years and was turned away twice in July, despite an administrative fine against him reportedly being waived.

• Simon Vandenbroucke: An Enlargement Programme Officer for the EU Delegation to Georgia, who was denied entry in May. While Georgian authorities later offered "oral apologies" and confirmed he was welcome, his case underscored the issue.

• Maggie Osdoby Katz: Former US diplomat and civic sector consultant.

• Victor Patrascan: Romanian stand-up comedian.

• Regina Jegorova-Askerova: Lithuanian women's rights advocate, who reportedly had family and permanent residency in Georgia.

This streak of refusals has affected journalists and activists, including those who had lived in Georgia for years, many of whom believe their critical views or reporting on the ruling Georgian Dream party are the underlying reasons for their rejection. The same clause has also been reportedly used against Russian and Belarusian citizens who "confronted their regimes."

In response to these incidents, both the French and Polish Embassies in Georgia issued travel advisories in late May. These advisories warned their citizens to consider potential entry risks, including participation in demonstrations in Georgia or activity on social media, before traveling. They highlighted that re-entry might be conditional on immediate payment of substantial fines for alleged participation in such protests.

The continued use of vague legal pretexts to deny entry to foreign journalists and critics raises significant concerns about press freedom and civil liberties in Georgia. El Bouhmidi's ongoing legal challenge, alongside those of other affected individuals, will be crucial in observing the future trajectory of these restrictions.