Georgia Tbilisi Situation Report 2026

On March 31, the security environment in Tbilisi remains highly volatile. Authorities escalated judicial pressure on the opposition by charging Aleko Elisashvili with 'terrorism' for allegedly setting fire to a court archive in May 2025. This follows the March 24 sentencing of Elene Khoshtaria, which continues to fuel daily protests on Rustaveli Avenue, now past their 486th day. Additionally, on March 30, police arrested 13 supporters of neo-Nazi groups, including seven minors, for acts of extreme cruelty and violence in Tbilisi. Economic stress is set to sharply increase after the regulatory commission approved an 18-34% hike in household electricity tariffs starting April 1. On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a phone call on March 30 to discuss regional security and the Middle Corridor, signaling ongoing high-level engagement despite bilateral friction. Meanwhile, the previously watched high winds materialized on March 31, peaking at 35.4km/h, posing a continued risk of localized power outages. The convergence of severe political polarization, impending economic strain from utility hikes, and the looming April 2 U.S. visa bond implementation creates a highly restrictive operational environment. For the Samgori District school, administrators must advise international students to maintain a low profile, strictly avoid the Parliament area due to unpredictable police actions and potential neo-Nazi violence, and prepare for localized infrastructure disruptions caused by high winds.

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