MESSI FAN AMONG THOSE DENIED ENTRY
DUBAI — For Indian national Clifin Francis, what was meant to be a dream journey from Sharjah to Russia vis his bicycle to see the Fifa World Cup and meet his idol Lionnel Messi, the Argentinian footballer, turned sour when he reached Georgia’s border via Azerbaijan.
“I heard several stories of issues that people faced trying to get into Georgia. So I went to the Georgian Embassy in Baku with all my paperwork… holiday insurance, hotel bookings, spending money etc, and they told me it would be fine.”
But that was not the case. When he reached the border along with another fellow German cyclist, he was denied entry, as the German was let through. “They just looked at my passport. They had no interest in seeing the paperwork I had. They were shouting at me in their language and they were very aggressive.” After being turned away with no valid reason as to why, he was stuck between the borders of Georgia and Azerbaijan for 24-hours, as he had to apply for an e-Visa to re-enter Azerbaijan.
“I felt like I was targeted because of my nationality. They gave no reason as to why I was turned away. I felt discriminated against. Why bother issuing e-visas for certain nationalities or asking for documented evidence if they are just going to refuse you entry?”
They gave no reason as to why I was turned away. Why bother issuing e-visas for certain nationalities or asking for documented evidence if they are just going to refuse you entry.” Cliffin Francis, Indian visitor