Georgia Tbilisi Situation Report 2026

On April 9, tensions flared at Parliament during the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Soviet massacre, resulting in several arrests as protesters confronted Georgian Dream officials. Fulfilling a prior watch item, the parliament adopted amendments to the controversial Law on Grants in its third and final reading on April 15, introducing exemptions for diplomatic missions but maintaining strict oversight on civil society. Meanwhile, parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy held protests at the government administration building on April 15, demanding state funding for treatments. Significant administrative and logistical disruptions occurred during this period. On April 15, the parliament approved a new 'C5' visa category for IT migrants, tightening residency rules to require two years of experience and a $25,000 annual income. Additionally, a major nationwide internet outage affected MagtiCom users on April 9 due to global network issues. In the banking sector, BasisBank completed its acquisition of Liberty Bank on April 16, consolidating control over the country's third-largest financial institution. The convergence of the finalized Grants Law, stricter IT visa requirements, and persistent protests requires immediate administrative action for the Samgori school. International staff must review their residency eligibility under the new C5 rules to avoid sudden deportations or visa denials. With Up, overland travel to Russia remains highly unreliable. Staff should avoid the Parliament area on Rustaveli Avenue, especially during evening hours, due to the potential for spontaneous clashes.

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