Georgia Intel: Tbilisi Protests & Russian Pressure

On May 1, thousands of taxi drivers and couriers launched a coordinated strike in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, demanding lower commission fees and better working conditions. This labor unrest coincides with the ongoing 24-hour protest by parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy outside the Government Administration, which has continued since April 22. Concurrently, new regulations took effect on May 1 imposing stricter traffic fines and requiring special work permits for self-employed foreigners, including couriers and guides. Diplomatic isolation and security consolidation remain high priorities. On April 27, the Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned EU Ambassador Pawel Herczynski over his remarks warning Georgia not to return to 'dark times'. This follows Georgia's permanent suspension from the Open Government Partnership on April 22 due to democratic backsliding. Within the security sector, Roman Kartsivadze was appointed head of the State Security Service special operations department on May 1, finalizing a major reshuffle. Meanwhile, Tskhinvali de facto authorities condemned the April 22 SSSG espionage arrest of Akhalgori resident Tamaz Goloev. The convergence of labor strikes, sustained civil protests, and tightening regulations on foreigners creates a complex operational environment for the Samgori business school. While kinetic violence remains low, the May 1 taxi and courier strikes will severely disrupt local transit and logistics for students and staff. Furthermore, the deportation of 103 foreigners on April 30 and the new May 1 work permit rules signal a hardened administrative stance on expats. Expected EU sanctions remain blocked, and Tskhinvali has limited its retaliation to diplomatic condemnation thus far. The school should advise students to secure alternative transport during the strikes and ensure all residency and work documentation is strictly compliant with the new regulations.

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