Journalist Masha Gessen granted Australian visa after delays due to Russian charges

Issuing of visa comes after Gessen expressed surprise at being functionally denied' entry

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The Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen has been granted a visa to speak at a festival in Australia, after initially facing delays due to criminal charges laid in absentia.

Gessen, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, was initially due to arrive in Australia last weekend to speak at events at the Wheeler Centre and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.

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