Georgia Tbilisi Situation Report 2026

The security environment in Tbilisi remains highly volatile. The European Union officially suspended visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic and service passport holders on March 6, warning of stricter checks for all citizens. Concurrently, the Georgian Dream government passed a new legislative package restricting foreign funding and political activity, drawing severe condemnation from the EU and OSCE/ODIHR. The State Security Service of Georgia continues its probe into alleged Iranian recruitment, summoning experts and opposition figures for questioning. Civil unrest continues unabated, marking the 465th day of continuous protests. Nine opposition parties formed a 'Unity' alliance and held massive marches on Rustaveli Avenue. Law enforcement remains highly active; a joint operation with Turkish authorities resulted in the arrest of 14 Turkish citizens, 11 of whom were wanted by Interpol. Additionally, the SSSG arrested 30 individuals, including municipal officials, in a nationwide anti-corruption crackdown. The convergence of the EU visa suspension, new foreign funding laws, and the SSSG's foreign influence probe creates a highly scrutinized environment for international schools and NGOs. Expected enforcement of the new foreign funding laws has materialized with the passage of the legislative package, requiring immediate legal review for the Samgori school. The anticipated EU border checks implementation has begun with diplomatic passport suspensions, and the Up, severely disrupting overland freight. Regional instability from the Iran-Israel conflict has surged transit flights over Georgia to 2,000, complicating regional travel.

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Multiple moderate earthquakes were detected in the broader region, including a Magnitude 4.8 event 16 km NNW of Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, and several Magnitude 4.4-4.5 events near Sochi, Russia.

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