Georgia Intel: Tbilisi Protests & Russian Pressure

On April 16, Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zakharova threatened economic retaliation if Georgia joins the EU. Domestically, the State Security Service arrested two individuals—a Georgian and a foreign national—in Batumi and Gardabani on April 20 for alleged ISIS ties. Meanwhile, Freedom House added Georgia to its list of countries using transnational repression tactics. Civil unrest continues as parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy hold 24-hour protests outside the Government Administration in Tbilisi, with police banning tents on April 20. In the security domain, police arrested a Georgian and a Russian citizen for a $181,000 armed robbery in Tbilisi on April 18, and a separate stabbing occurred on Agladze Street. The expected Duchenne protests materialized as watched in the prior report, while Russian economic threats remain rhetorical at this stage. The convergence of Russian economic threats, ongoing healthcare protests, and severe weather warnings requires heightened vigilance for the Samgori school. The National Environmental Agency warned of heavy rain and avalanche risks in mountainous areas from April 19-21, which will likely disrupt the Up, and monitor the implementation of the newly passed C5 visa rules for any administrative disruptions.

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