Thursday, September 1 2016 13:28

ArmInfo. The Russian Embassy in Armenia holds no information about deportation of Armenian political expert Stepan Grigoryan from Russia. "We have received no  requests regarding citizen Grigoryan's deportation. As soon as we get  any information, we will let you know," the Russian Embassy has told  an ArmInfo correspondent.    

Stepan Grigoryan, Head of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and  Regional Cooperation (ACGRC), said yesterday that on August 30 at 8  am he arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia but he was unable to  enter the territory of Russia because he was detained by Russian  border guards due to a ban on travel to Russia until 2030.    

"I arrived in Russia to visit one of the Moscow cemeteries, where my  father Gevorg Grigoryan was buried in October 2014. I had only 10  hours and on Aug 30 night I was to fly back to Yerevan. I was given a  notification, which contained references to the Russian Federal Law  "On departure and entry to the Russian Federation," which mostly  concerned various kinds of actions of foreign citizens, who violate  the law. This has absolutely nothing to do with me, because I have  conducted no activities in Russia over the past 20 years. In my case,  only Item 9 of Article 26 of that Law (On deportation of foreign  citizens who take part in international organizations' activities,  which are undesirable in the territory of Russia) was important. It  is no secret that the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional  Cooperation (Armenia) headed by me is actively cooperating with  European NGOs, analytical centers and various democratic foundations  that support our initiatives. Besides, we do not conceal that we see  the future of Armenian people in the European family based on  democratic values. It is obvious that the Russian authorities'  decision was politically charged," Grigoryan says on his Facebook  page. 

He also notes that on the same day he was deported from Russia to  Armenia. He adds that later it was found out that according to the  information posted on the Russian Federal Migration Service's  website, now he has the right to travel to Russia.  

"On August 30, 2016, I applied to the Armenian Foreign Ministry to  protect my rights and I will be waiting for the reply for a few days.  Afterwards, I will start my own actions to defend my infringed  rights," Grigoryan says. ArmInfo has failed to receive any comment  from the Armenian Foreign Ministry.