Expert links Armenia entry ban to repressive climate

Karen Igityan, a Russian citizen and an expert on Caucasus affairs, claims he has been denied entry into Armenia without any official explanation, calling the move politically motivated.

Igityan, who has lived and worked in Armenia since 2009, was barred from entering the country on July 5. The ban came shortly after his participation in the Caucasian Dialogue conference in Pyatigorsk, where he voiced concerns about the spread of radical ideologies by Turkey in the Caucasus region.

“I have not received any official explanation for the entry ban,” Igitian told Panorama.am on Monday. “This is an attempt to silence me,” he added, pointing to what he described as a repressive climate in Armenia.

The expert said his legal team is currently working to uncover the grounds for the decision, requesting justification from Armenian state and law enforcement agencies.