Georgia Intel: Tbilisi Protests & Russian Pressure

As anticipated in the prior forward watch, authorities have escalated the detention of protesters on Rustaveli Avenue. On May 15, former minister Alexi Petriashvili was sentenced to three days in detention for 'obstructing pedestrian traffic' while standing on a sidewalk. Multiple students, including Elene Gelashvili and Tatia Chelidze, face similar charges, bringing the total number of such arrests to at least 45. The diplomatic rift with the West continues to widen. Following the European Parliament's May 13 decision to suspend access for pro-government Imedi TV, Georgian Dream officials accused Brussels of suppressing free speech. Concurrently, the French National Assembly adopted a resolution on May 11 calling for targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili. Regionally, Russia's May 9 'Treaty on Deepening Allied Cooperation' with South Ossetia has drawn sharp condemnation from Tbilisi and the Council of Europe as a step toward de facto annexation. The convergence of aggressive protest policing, diplomatic fallout, and infrastructure strain creates a complex operational environment for the Samgori school. The severe weather watched in the prior report materialized on May 15-16, causing localized flooding near Parliament and power outages in Sololaki. Furthermore, traffic in central Tbilisi will be heavily restricted on May 17 due to the 'Family Purity Day' march from Kashveti Church to Sameba Cathedral. International students must avoid Rustaveli Avenue and plan for significant logistical disruptions.

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