EU diplomat denied entry to Georgia

A European Union diplomat was denied entry to Georgia earlier this week in an incident the EU Delegation has described as a violation of diplomatic protocols.

Simon Vandenbroucke, a member of the EU Delegation to Georgia, was turned away at Tbilisi International Airport on 21 May, according to a statement provided to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) by the EU Delegation.

“The refusal of entry by the EU Delegation to a duly accredited member of the delegation is contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other relevant norms that Georgia is bound to uphold,” the Delegation said.

The EU has issued a formal diplomatic protest in the form of a note verbal to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response, Georgian authorities have reportedly offered a verbal apology and assured that Vandenbroucke was permitted to return to his post.

Details surrounding the reasons for the entry denial remain unclear.