Georgia Intel: Tbilisi Protests & Russian Pressure

On May 1, a nationwide taxi and courier strike began, severely disrupting transit in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi as workers demand lower commissions and higher tariffs. Concurrently, parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy continue their 24-hour protest outside the Government Administration, marking their 15th consecutive night in the rain as of May 4. On May 2, thousands marched through central Tbilisi in support of independent media ahead of World Press Freedom Day, following a report that Georgia dropped 21 places to 135th in the RSF World Press Freedom Index. 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. Diplomatically, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan on May 4. 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 has already materialized with a landslide blocking the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni road. Simultaneously, 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 still anticipated later in May.

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