08 July,2017 05:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Rupsa Chakraborty
Days after mid-day reported on the plight of a Bandra resident, who was turned away from Tbilisi airport in Georgia despite holding an e-visa, the Embassy of India in Yerevan, Armenia, has issued an advisory recommending that Indian nationals
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Days after mid-day reported on the plight of a Bandra resident, who was turned away from Tbilisi airport in Georgia despite holding an e-visa, the Embassy of India in Yerevan, Armenia, has issued an advisory recommending that Indian nationals should not to travel to Georgia on e-visa. The notice was issued on Thursday, in response to an email sent by the complainant, Khushbu Kaushal, who went through a 32-hour nightmare after Tbilisi airport officials refused to grant her entry.
Too little, too late?
Kaushal was of the opinion that the advisory should be on a public forum so that it can reach more tourists and warn them before they opt for e-visas.
"It is hidden somewhere on the website of the Embassy of India, Yerevan. They need to post it on the website for the e-visa, so that more people become aware of it. If this has been happening for a long time then why have no steps been taken to inform Indians?' she asked. Kaushal's email to the embassy stated: "I was informed by Sharjah transit officers and Indian immigration officers that Georgia's immigration officers have been sending almost 90% of Indian travellers back every day ."
"I found out that Georgian government had invited Indian farmers to come and cultivate the lands which Georgian people were not able to work at. This sudden influx of Indians, has increased hatred towards Indians in general, which I guess has resulted in the immigration officers being racists and playing God with regular Indians travel plans," alleged Kaushal.
Embassy says
Prashant Kumar Das, First Secretary (Head of Chancery), Embassy of India, Yerevan, informed her in an email that the ambassador had earlier taken up the issue of e-visa with the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "It was informed to us that when an Indian national fills his application for e-visa, there are certain requirements that have to be met, indicated in the form. When the applicant puts his/her signature on the forms, he/she agrees to meet these requirements. Indian nationals with valid e-visa are denied entry into Georgia only when such criteria are not met by them," stated the official's email. Kaushal claims that she went through the requirements on the e-visa website and took with her all the necessary documents.
The advisory
"Indian nationals are advised not to travel to Georgia on e-visa, as many instances are being reported of Indians holding Georgian e-visa being denied entry by immigration upon their arrival in Georgia due to improper/incomplete documents." reads the advisory.
