Masha Gessen expressed that the delays in obtaining their visa to Australia amounted to being functionally declined entry, aligning with Russian efforts to silence dissenting voices.
Gessen highlighted that their conviction in Russia for reporting on war crimes was not just punitive but also a method to intimidate them and restrict their movement.
Despite the unexpected complexities of their visa process, Gessen was eventually granted a visa after the Australian government discovered the demand for impossible police checks from Russia.
The demands for police checks from both Russia and the U.S. were seen as unjust, particularly since Gessen had neither been charged nor convicted in the United States.
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