Iran registers formal protest over Georgia’s maltreatment of nationals

The Iranian Foreign Ministry, in a Tuesday meeting with Georgian ambassador to Tehran, lodged a formal protest over the mistreatment of Iranian nationals seeking to enter the South Caucasian country.

Following the unfriendly behavior of certain Georgian border officials towards Iranian citizens, Iranian Foreign Ministry's Director-General for Eurasian Affairs, Qolamreza Baqeri Moqaddam, conveyed Iran's protest to Tbilisi regarding the mistreatment of Iranian nationals seeking to enter the South Caucasian country.

During a meeting between Baqeri Moqaddam and Georgian Ambassador to Tehran Ioseb Chakhvashvili, the Georgian side provided explanations on the latest status of Georgian border guards' behavior with some Iranian nationals seeking to enter the country.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Baqeri Moqaddam complained about the unfriendly behavior of certain Georgian border officials towards Iranian citizens.

Highlighting the cordial relations between the two nations, the Iranian official said recent deportations run contrary to a bilateral agreement on visa free travel and growing ties between Tehran and Tbilisi.

He further expressed hope for the development of bilateral cooperation, vowing to follow up the declared concerns.
The Georgian envoy, for his part, voiced regret over the recent developments and presented a report on the incident, promising to personally visit Tbilisi and follow up the event and announce the results to the Iranian side.

About 200 Iranians have been deported from land and air borders of Georgia in recent days.

EA