The human rights organization Rights Georgia stated that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the removal of Iranian citizen Hadi Rostami from the country and potential violations of his rights.
The NGO reported that Rostami had been detained by the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and spent about a week at the Temporary Placement Center for Foreigners. On June 5, he informed his friends that he had been offered transportation to the Armenian border, but, according to his acquaintances, he did not want to leave Georgia voluntarily.
When a Rights Georgia lawyer attempted to meet with Rostami at the center, he was informed that the man was no longer there. Later, the human rights advocates learned that he had left Georgia.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that no deportation decision had been made regarding Rostami and that he had left the country voluntarily.
At the same time, Rights Georgia notes that Rostami had been legally residing in Georgia for about 10 years and, according to available information, had no plans to leave. The NGO is trying to establish the circumstances under which he ended up in Armenia and whether he indeed agreed to leave of his own free will.
The human rights advocates have already requested information from state authorities and continue to investigate the case.