Georgian Parliament officials safe following Brussels explosions

Georgian Parliament officials who were close to the metro station in Brussels where several explosions took place today, are safe.

Thirteen Members of Georgia’s Parliament and four employees of the Parliament unit are safe. None of them were injured in the blast, which took place about 9am local time (12pm Georgia time), said Georgia’s Parliament officials from Tbilisi.

• Latest reports state 15 people were killed and more than 50 others wounded after four explosions at Maalbeek metro station in central Brussels. 
• This followed two explosions about an hour earlier 8am local time (11am Georgia time) at the city’s main airport, which are understood to have killed at least 11 people and injured at least 30 more, reported the BBC.
• Latest reports state at least one of the airport blasts were caused by suicide bombers.

The Georgian MPs travelled to Brussels to attend the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meeting however all official meetings and events the European Union (EU) had scheduled in Brussels have been cancelled.

Of the Georgian MPs currently being in Brussels, eight were from Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream coalition and five were from the opposition United National Movement party (UNM).

Tinatin Bokuchaba of UNM, who is one of the Georgian officials currently in Brussels, said they were in a hotel near the troubled metro station when the first explosion took place. She added the location was very close to the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Bokuchava said all transport had stopped working in the city but the Georgian officials planned to walk to the EU building as a gesture of solidarity.

Apart from the officials, at least five other Georgian citizens in Brussels marked themselves as ‘safe’ on Facebook.

Georgia’s Consul in Belgium Ketevan Didebulidze said Brussels had been "practically paralyzed” and the consulate could not communicate with the airport, metro or police to get information about other Georgians in the city.

Meanwhile security measures at Georgia’s borders and airports have been strengthened, officials said.

"Following the terror attacks Georgia has taken all measures of security, including intensifying security services at our borders and airports,” Georgia’s State Security Service said in a statement this afternoon.

"Also, control has been strengthened at all strategically important facilities of Georgia.”

Meanwhile Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze took to Twitter to condemn the "horrible events” in Brussels.

Deeply shocked and saddened by horrible events in #Brussels. My Condolences to families of victims. #BrusselsAirport#Zaventem

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) March 22, 2016

I am deeply shocked about the terrorist attack in the #Brussels airport. On behalf of the Georgian people, I express solidarity.

— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) March 22, 2016

Shocked and saddened by series of terrorist attacks in #Brussels. We are standing with #Belgium

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) March 22, 2016