Georgia Intel: Tbilisi Protests & Russian Pressure

On May 1, a nationwide taxi and courier strike began, severely disrupting transit in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi. Concurrently, parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy continued their 24-hour protest outside the Government Administration, marking their 12th consecutive day as of May 2. On May 2, thousands marched through central Tbilisi in support of independent media ahead of World Press Freedom Day. Administrative tightening escalated sharply as new regulations enforcing strict work permits for self-employed foreigners took effect on May 1, following the deportation of 103 foreigners on April 30. In the security sector, parliament approved Geka Geladze as the new head of the State Security Service on April 29, and formalized the powers of Mamuka Mdinaradze as the new State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies on May 2. The convergence of severe weather, transit strikes, and aggressive immigration enforcement creates a highly disruptive operational environment for the Samgori business school. The National Environmental Agency's warning of heavy rain and landslide risks from May 2-6 threatens to sever the Up, the ongoing taxi strike severely limits mobility for students and staff. The school must immediately audit all international student visas and staff work permits to ensure strict compliance with the May 1 regulations, as the recent deportations signal a zero-tolerance approach by immigration authorities. Expected US State Department visits are now anticipated later in May.

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