The European Union Delegation to Georgia has confirmed that Simon Vanderbroek, a staff member who has served in Georgia since September 2024, was denied entry upon arrival at Tbilisi Airport on May 21.
In an official statement, the EU Delegation said the incident violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and other relevant norms, which Georgia is obligated to uphold. A Note Verbale has been sent to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) regarding the matter.
The Delegation said Georgian authorities have issued oral apologies and assured that Vanderbroek is welcome to return to his post.
Media first reported the incident on May 22, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed it to a “technical misunderstanding.”
