EU Delegation: We confirm that a member of the EU Delegation was not allowed entry in Georgia, although the Georgian MFA has presented oral apologies and confirmed that the staff member is welcome to come back to his place of posting

The European Union Delegation to Georgia confirms that Simon Vanderbroek, a member of the EU Delegation who has been working in Georgia since September 2024, has been denied entry into the country.

The EU Delegation to Georgia issued a statement. According to them, the Georgian authorities “have presented oral apologies for the regrettable incident and confirmed that the staff member is welcome to come back to his place of posting.”

„The EU Delegation to Georgia confirms that a member of the EU Delegation was not allowed entry upon arrival at the Tbilisi airport on 21 May. The denial of entry to a duly accredited member of the EU Delegation contravenes the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other applicable norms, which Georgia is bound to respect. A Note Verbale has been addressed to the Georgian MFA on this matter. The Georgian authorities have presented oral apologies for the regrettable incident and confirmed that the staff member is welcome to come back to his place of posting“, reads the statement.

For information, on 22 May, media reported that a member of the EU Delegation, Simon Vanderbroek, was turned away from the Georgian border. According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “there was a technical misunderstanding.”