Allegations of mistreatment at Georgia-Armenia border
A controversy has erupted after a group of 56 Indian travellers was allegedly subjected to “inhuman behaviour” by Georgian border officials while attempting to enter the country from Armenia. The claims were made by a traveller, Dhruvee Patel, who shared her experience on Instagram, accusing authorities of harassment, humiliation, and prolonged detention at the Sadakhlo border crossing.
Group detained for hours in freezing cold
According to Patel’s post, despite carrying valid e-visas and travel documents, the group was made to wait for more than five hours in harsh conditions. She alleged that no food or water was provided, and access to toilets was denied during the long wait.
In addition, officials reportedly confiscated the passports of the entire group for more than two hours without any explanation, forcing them to sit on the roadside “like cattle.” Patel also claimed that authorities recorded videos of the travellers “as if they were criminals,” but stopped them from filming the incident themselves.
Allegations of visa rejection without verification
Patel further alleged that the Georgian officers did not even properly examine the group’s documents. Instead, they declared that the visas were “wrong,” without providing clarification or recourse. She described the ordeal as “shameful and unacceptable,” calling on the Indian government to intervene.
In her Instagram post, Patel tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging India to take a “strong stand” against what she described as discriminatory treatment of Indian citizens.
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Public reactions highlight repeated issues
The incident triggered widespread debate online, with many social media users sharing similar stories of harassment at Georgian borders.
One user wrote: “Sorry to hear that. Also this isn’t the first post I’ve seen of Georgia. It’s been bad and happening for a long time now.”
Another questioned why Indians continue to visit Georgia despite repeated reports of mistreatment. “When this behaviour has been consistent from Georgia then why do Indians keep going there?”
Several commenters pointed to systemic issues, accusing Georgian authorities of racial profiling. One user claimed there had been “consistent reports of racial discrimination against Indians for years.”
Past accounts of Indian travellers’ experiences
Adding to the discussion, another traveller recalled visiting Georgia in 2019. While they eventually managed to enter through the Russian side and went on to have a “dream visit,” they noted that “for many years Georgia has been creating problems for Indian travellers,” calling it an unfortunate and recurring pattern.
MEA yet to respond
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding Patel’s allegations or the concerns raised by other Indian nationals.
The Sadakhlo border crossing, one of the busiest land checkpoints between Armenia and Georgia, has previously seen complaints of poor handling of travellers, though this latest incident has intensified scrutiny and raised calls for diplomatic intervention.
Conclusion
The allegations have reignited conversations around the treatment of Indian travellers abroad and the importance of safeguarding their dignity. While Patel’s account has drawn attention on social media, the absence of an official response leaves the matter unresolved. Travellers and civil society groups are now waiting to see if the Indian government takes up the issue diplomatically to ensure better protection for its citizens in the future.