British citizen ‘denied permission’ to leave Georgia after arrest during pro-European rally

A British national, Daniel Michael John Travis, 28, has claimed he is being prevented from leaving Georgia after his arrest during a pro-European demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi last December.

Travis, speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, revealed that he had intended to return to the United Kingdom in January but was stopped at Tbilisi International Airport and denied permission to travel.

Travis, who was arrested on December 1, 2024, claims that he attempted to leave Georgia by land via Batumi, but his efforts were similarly thwarted. At the airport, border police allegedly informed him that he could not depart and directed him to call a specific phone number for further details. According to Travis, this number was linked to a police officer, who subsequently informed him that a fine of 1,000 Georgian Lari (GEL) was required for his release.

Following this, Travis visited the Old Tbilisi police station, where he reportedly paid the fine in cash but received no receipt for the transaction. Despite the payment, he was still unable to leave Georgia. In another attempt to exit the country via Batumi, he was again informed that his departure was prohibited and was asked to pay a further 3,000 GEL, a demand he refused.

Travis has stated that he has not been provided with any formal notice or court order regarding the reasons for his travel restrictions, nor has he been informed of any legal case or fines against him.

Georgian authorities accused Travis of disobeying a lawful police request, and he was subsequently sentenced to ten days of administrative detention. His lawyer, Beka Khokhobashvili, contended that Travis was not a participant in the protest but had merely been passing by, taking photos and videos when he was detained.

Court documents show that Travis was accused of being aggressive and failing to comply with police orders, which led to his detention. The video evidence presented by the police, however, did not identify Travis as a demonstrator.

Since his arrest, Travis has struggled to understand the reasons behind the continued restrictions on his travel, having received no official communication regarding any charges or penalties. He insists that he was simply a bystander caught up in the events of the protest and has expressed frustration at his prolonged stay in Georgia.