Atlanta, Georgia, USA: A recent event at the Georgia-Armenia border has caught widespread attention. A woman claimed that Georgian authorities mistreated 56 Indian travelers, even though they had all the required documents.
The unsettling incident reportedly took place at the Sadakhlo border, the primary crossing point connecting Armenia to Georgia. Dhruvi Patel, one of the travelers, shared her experience on Instagram, describing the situation as extremely distressing.
According to Patel, the group of 56 Indians had all valid e-visas and travel documents. Despite this, Georgian officials reportedly held them in freezing conditions for over five hours. During this time, they were not provided food or access to restroom facilities. Their passports were confiscated, and they were kept waiting silently for more than two hours. Patel said the group was forced to sit on the ground and treated in a demeaning manner.
The situation worsened when the travelers were allegedly stopped from recording videos of the incident. Patel said their visas were disrespected without any proper verification of documents. She described the ordeal as "shameful and unacceptable" and even reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, tagging the latter to demand a strong response from India.
Social Media Reactions
The post has quickly gone viral online, with many users sharing their thoughts. Some pointed out that such incidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Georgia. Others questioned why Indians continue to visit the country despite these issues. Several users linked the mistreatment to possible racial discrimination. Many emphasized that the Indian government should intervene and ensure accountability.
A traveler who visited Georgia in 2019 recounted a similar experience. He mentioned being warned about potential issues before leaving Russia but was ultimately allowed entry. “It has been a dream trip, yet Indians have faced difficulties for years,” he said, describing the incident as painful. This event highlights a broader issue of discrimination faced by Indian tourists abroad, not just an isolated group.
