Explaining complex things in simple words: Provision of consular services abroad, Moscow's aiding to the North Korean regime, protest in Georgia

PROVISION OF CONSULAR SERVICES ABROAD

On April 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine decided to temporarily suspend the provision of services in Ukrainian diplomatic institutions to men who are subject to the law on mobilization due to their age.

• The decision applies only to draft age men abroad, and also suspends acceptance of new applications from this category of citizens, for a limited period of time.
• After the end of this period, applications will continue. Draft age men who have clarified their data in accordance with the requirements of the law will have access to consular services.
• All applications for receiving consular services, submitted by April 23, 2024 in foreign diplomatic institutions, are considered and processed by consular institutions.
• This decision does not concern the provision of emergency consular assistance to citizens of Ukraine in case of emergency situations (road accidents, detention, natural disasters, etc.).
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on a consular services modernization package, which will simplify the access of all categories of citizens to consular services and reduce the time of procedures.

MOSCOW'S AIDING TO THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME

The UN experts for monitoring sanctions against the DPRK confirmed that on January 2, 2024, the Russian army attacked Kharkiv with a North Korean Hwasong-11 ballistic missile

• UN experts confirmed the conclusions of Ukrainian experts about the missile of North Korean origin. Moscow's lies and hypocrisy have once again been exposed at the international level.
• North Korea is under international sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council for systematically intimidating its neighbours with missile attacks. The purchase of missiles from the DPRK is a gross violation of the sanctions’ regime.
• Moscow seeks to continue to neglect its own international obligations, and in order to hide the facts, Moscow vetoes of mandate for the UN expert group monitoring compliance with sanctions against the DPRK, from May.
• In order to continue aggression against Ukraine, Russia is ready to cooperate with anyone, even with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, to the detriment of global security and contrary to international law.
• Russia is testing missiles for North Korea in Ukraine in the same way as ‘’Shaheds’’ have been tested for Iran, before they were used against Israel.

PROTESTS IN GEORGIA

Mass protests against the adopting the draft law "On transparency of foreign influence" are continuing in Tbilisi.

• Ukraine treats Georgia with sympathy and deep respect, that is why the acute political crisis in the country causes concern.
• We hope that the Georgian authorities will have enough wisdom to settle the crisis peacefully, and foresight to take into account the warnings about the so-called ‘’law on foreign agents’’ from the European Union, the United States, Georgian diplomats and a large part of society.
• Ukraine respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and supports its course towards European integration, which our countries are heading together.
• Integration with the West will make impossible the Kremlin's further efforts to draw our countries into the orbit of the Russian Federation's political influence, where the only prospect is the loss of democracy, independence and statehood.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security