Prepared by Messenger Staff
NATO Clarifies Absence of Georgia and Ukraine in 2024 Annual Report
NATO has addressed why Georgia and Ukraine were not mentioned in the 2024 Secretary General's annual report, stating that the omission does not reflect a change in policy. According to NATO's response to Interpressnews, the latest report under Secretary General Mark Rutte has been intentionally shortened and made more focused, omitting many topics and details for clarity and accessibility. "This does not imply any change to NATO policies or the status of any NATO partner," the alliance said.
NATO reaffirmed Georgia's status as one of its closest partners and reiterated support for its territorial integrity and aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. However, the alliance expressed serious concerns over Georgia's democratic backsliding, citing the controversial "foreign influence" and "family values" laws, political polarization around the 2024 elections, and the government's handling of peaceful protests.
As a result, NATO has paused five out of 17 initiatives under the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), including cooperation on cybersecurity, crisis management, and strategic communications. Two initiatives will continue with modifications, while ten remain unaffected. Three prior initiatives have already been completed and closed.
The alliance encouraged Georgia to prioritize democratic and rule-of-law reforms, stating that "the Georgian people have made clear that they want a democratic, prosperous future within the European and Euro-Atlantic family."
NATO also reaffirmed its position on Russia, calling on Moscow to reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to cease militarization and human rights violations in the occupied regions, and to fully implement the 2008 EU-mediated ceasefire.
Georgia Expels 96 Foreign Nationals in April, Interior Ministry Confirms
Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on May 6 that 96 foreign nationals were expelled from the country during the month of April. According to the ministry, the removals were carried out in accordance with the law, with some individuals departing voluntarily, while others were deported following enforcement measures by the Migration Department.
"In accordance with the law, the deported individuals have been banned from re-entering the country," the ministry's statement said.
Those expelled included citizens from a wide range of countries, including China, Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Israel, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, South Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Kazakhstan.
While the ministry provided no further detail on the reasons behind the expulsions, it emphasized that the removals were carried out "in line with national legislation and migration policy."
