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Armenian political analyst denied entry in Moscow

01 September 2016 10:09 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA. Stepan Grigoryan, a well-known Armenian political analyst and the head of the Centre for Globalization and Regional Cooperation, was barred Tuesday morning by Russian border guards in Sheremetyevo Airport from entering Russia’s territory, arka.am reported.

Grigoryan wrote on his Facebook page that he had traveled to Moscow for visiting his father’s grave in one of the city’s cemeteries and intended to return to Yerevan on the same day.

He was told by the body guards that his entry to Russia is prohibited until 2030.

The paper he has received from the bodyguards contained references to the Russian law’s provision, where various criminal offenses by foreigners were mentioned.

“I have nothing to do with that, since I have not been involved in any activity in Russia in the last 20 years,” Grigoryan said. “In my case, only cause 9 from Article 26 of this law was important – on deportation of foreign citizens who are involved in international organizations’ activities that are not welcome in Russia’s territory.”

The political analyst said everybody knows that the Centre for Globalization and Regional Cooperation headed by him intensively cooperates with European nongovernmental organizations, centers for analyses and various democratic funds and the initiatives supported by them.

Besides, he said, his center doesn’t hide that it sees the future of Armenian people in the European fold that is guided by democratic values.

“It is obvious that the Russian authorities’ decision was politically motivated,” Grigoryan said. “It is known that Russia wants to suppress civil society institutions’ activities also in Armenia.”

On the same day Grigoryan was deported to Armenia, but it has become clear later from the Russian Federal Migration Service’s website, that he has a right for entering Russia.

He said his passport has been taken from him in Sheremetyevo and returned right before return to Yerevan.

Grigoryan said he appealed to the Armenian foreign ministry on August 30 asking it to protect his rights and will be waiting for the reply for a few days. After that he will take his own steps to protect his rights.