Armenian official refutes being denied entry to Georgia

Student-cultural groups were recently invited to Akhalkalaki, a town in Samtskhe-Javahketi region of Georgia, to take part in the cultural events organized in the frameworks of Voske Ashun (golden autumn) festival.

Armenia's Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Arsen Karamyan was also invited to Samtskhe-Javahketi to attend the main event set to be held in Akhalkalaki on October 24.

However, the guards at the Bavra checkpoint kept him waiting long and denied him entrance to Georgia, Sardarapat movement's initiatory group says in a release.

"Being actually held a hostage for a couple of days and "enjoying" Georgian hospitality, Arsen Karamyan later returned to Armenia via Bagratashen checkpoint," the release further reads.

Tert.am, in an attempt to verify the information, contacted Arsen Karamyan, who, however, denied the above information.

"I was sincerely surprised with Sardarapat movement's release. The facts mentioned there are, mildly speaking, untrue. What's more, all the events we planned were properly organized in Javahk and we also had some useful meetings in the Georgian capital. The meetings were also covered by Armenian TV channels. As to the motives of such statements, I will refrain from any comments," the Deputy Minister said.

He also informed us that Georgian Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Vladimir Vardzelashvili is expected to visit Armenia by the invitation of Armenian side.