Hunger-Striking Journalist Becomes Symbol of Resistance in Georgia's Protests

Russia has announced the resumption of passenger flights to Sukhumi, the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, marking the first such service in three decades. According to Russian state media, a test flight from Moscow to Sukhumi took place on February 7, 2025, with regular flights expected to commence in May. This region has been a favored vacation destination for Russians since Soviet times and boasts a newly restored airport that had been closed during the 1990s conflict. Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states in 2008 after a brief war with Georgia. Despite this recognition, most nations still regard Abkhazia as part of Georgian territory. The test flight was operated by the private airline UVT Aero, and the Georgian government has yet to comment on the matter. The decision to resume flights reflects the deepening ties between Russia and the region amidst Georgia's increasingly strained relationships with the West.

A shocking human trafficking case has emerged in Georgia, where approximately 100 women were reportedly enslaved for illegal egg harvesting by Chinese gangsters. The situation came to light after three Thai women were freed by a Thailand-based NGO, as reported by the Bangkok Post. Pavena Hongsakula, founder of the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, stated that the victims were lured by deceptive job advertisements on social media, promising lucrative salaries ranging from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 Thai Baht ($28,000 to $42,000) for surrogacy work. Once in Georgia, the women were confined to properties and coerced into undergoing hormonal treatments to stimulate egg production for monthly extractions. One survivor described the harrowing process, which involved anesthetization and machine-assisted egg collection. According to estimates, the harvested eggs are likely trafficked for in-vitro fertilization purposes in other countries. Social media users have since called for stricter international regulations on the reproductive industry. Thai authorities, as reported by Reuters, are conducting further investigations into the matter.

Significant unrest has erupted in Georgia as protests against the government continue, resulting in multiple arrests, including two prominent opposition leaders. Nika Melia, head of the pro-European liberal party Achali, and former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava were apprehended while attempting to block a major highway, as reported by AFP. Prior to the protests, the Ministry of Internal Affairs warned demonstrators that blocking the highway could lead to a four-year prison sentence. Melia was later released after agreeing to appear in court. He reported that he faced police violence during his detention. These protests come in the wake of widespread allegations of electoral fraud following the October 26 parliamentary elections, which resulted in a substantial majority for the ruling party, Georgian Dream. Opposition groups accuse the government of drawing Georgia closer to Russia at the expense of its European aspirations. European Union foreign affairs representative Kaja Kallas condemned the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters, emphasizing the EU's support for the Georgian people's pursuit of freedom and democracy. Recent polls indicate that over 80% of Georgians support EU membership, which is constitutionally mandated.