Georgia Support Act approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in United States

The Georgia Support Act, presented in February 2021 by Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional Georgia Caucus, was endorsed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The document (H.R. 923), aims to support Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, states that the United States should support Georgia's continued development of democratic values, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and its people's right to make sovereign foreign and security policy decisions.

According to the law, the United States should not recognise Georgia's territorial changes brought about by force, such as Russia's illegal invasions and occupations of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia.

"With Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the timing of this measure could not be more essential," stated Gregory Meeks, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, during the April 5 mark-up. “Georgia's land is now occupied by Russia to the tune of 20%."

"More than ever, these nations [Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova] need to stand together with our full, unwavering support," Meeks said.

"Now, Georgia's progress on the path to democracy and Euro-Atlantic integration hasn't been perfect," the Committee Chair continued, "and we've seen some troubling trends recently, but I believe the arc of democracy in Georgia will [trend] in the right direction, and it's critical that the United States support [the] Georgian people on that path."

Zourabichvili denounces "brutal Russian atrocity"

"The heinous Russian slaughter in Kramatorsk is a violation of human rights," Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili declared. She tweeted that "this type of brutality will remain a horrible page in our history. There have been far too many crimes against humanity."

According to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, Russia launched a missile strike on the Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine, where some 4,000 people were awaiting evacuation.

According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the incident killed at least 30 people and injured at least a hundred others. "This was a premeditated massacre," Kuleba remarked. "We will prosecute every war criminal," he concluded.

Georgia's, Poland's, and Black Sea coastal states' defence ministers meet to discuss the conflict in Ukraine

According to the Turkish Defence Ministry, defence ministers from the Black Sea coastal nations and Poland had a video call to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Following an invitation from Turkish authorities, the presence of mined regions in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the battle, as well as general security in the region, were discussed, resulting in "extremely effective" talks, according to Ankara. A”part from mines, the importance of Black Sea cooperation for peace, quiet, and stability was emphasised," stated Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar following the conference.

Officials discussed how to relieve the humanitarian crisis and bring help to Ukraine in the midst of the conflict. Since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, Turkish military diving teams have exploded three independent floating naval mines in the Black Sea, while Romania has also defused a stray mine in its waters.

The Speaker of Georgia's Parliament declined invitation to visit Bucharest

Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of Georgia's Parliament, has declined the offer of Ukrainian Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk to visit Bucharest. Speaker Papuashvili stated, "I would like individual members of the Ukrainian government to fully appreciate the great support the Georgian people and government have for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people."

"This support and our countries' partnership do not really deserve an attempt by high-ranking Ukrainian officials to divide the Georgian people and government (in their support for Ukraine), the demand for opening a second frontline in Georgia, unfounded diplomatic démarches, baseless allegations, or accusations of profiteering from Ukrainians' misfortune, as it was stated in my (Ukrainian) colleague's previous address," the Georgian Speaker continued. "Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with this sensation. This emotion has persisted throughout Georgia's recent history," he stated, referring to the Soviet slaughter of pro-independence Georgians in Tbilisi on April 9, 1989.

Georgia is not assisting Russia in evading sanctions, according to the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili dismissed the possibility of Georgia assisting Russia in evading sanctions. In response to Kyiv's charges that Tbilisi is facilitating Russian smuggling, Georgian Prime Minister stated, "Georgia would never allow the transit of sanctioned items (across its borders). This claim that the (Georgia) government is engaged is ridiculous."

"It was extremely terrible for me to hear this defamation from Ukraine," Georgian Prime Minister stated, slamming Kyiv's "unfounded" charges. "This was a politically driven remark with no proof or fact (to back up the accusation)," he stated. 

Turkish Interior Minister met with Georgia's Prime Minister

Süleyman Soylu, the Turkish Interior Minister, met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his colleague Vakhtang Gomelauri in Tbilisi.

PM Garibashvili and Minister Soylu addressed the hostilities in Ukraine, the war's influence on the security situation in the South Caucasus, and the need to promote peace and stability in the area, according to the Georgian Government's press service.

In this regard, the PM mentioned his Peaceful Neighbourhood Initiative, a proposed platform that would bring Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia together in a conversation for South Caucasus confidence-building.

Meanwhile, Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri discussed the importance of Turkey's support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as cooperation in border security and the fight against organised crime, during his meeting with Minister Soylu.

Minister Soylu underlined his optimism that Georgia and Turkey will be able to advance their collaboration in the fight against terrorism, illegal migration, cyber-crime, and illicit betting, among other areas.

Interior Minister of Georgia visited Madrid

Vakhtang Gomelauri, Georgia's Interior Minister, met with his Spanish colleague Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gomez and Mara Gámez, Director General of the Civil Guard, in Madrid, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry. The role of the police attachés in enhancing bilateral police cooperation, the bilateral agreement on the fight against crime, the work of the joint analysis teams, and cooperation within EUROPOL were all discussed at the meeting between the two Interior Ministers, according to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Spanish side stated willingness to share its expertise in the areas of drug-related crimes, illegal migration, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs’s capacity building, according to the same source. Grande-Marlaska underlined Madrid's support for Georgia's EU integration process, according to the Georgian Ministry.

The Georgian Interior Ministry stated the parties addressed the role of police attachés in improving bilateral police cooperation and recent cooperative efforts against organised crime during Gomelauri's meeting at the Spanish Civil Guard.

The Spanish Interior Ministry tweeted that the meeting's goal was to "continue improving bilateral collaboration in security problems."