Close Protection in Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi has emerged as a significant hub for international business in the South Caucasus, a function both of Georgia’s improving investment climate and the disruption caused by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which redirected substantial business and human capital through Georgia. The city’s security environment reflects this new prominence: broadly manageable for standard business visits, with specific considerations for a growing population of higher-profile principals.

The security landscape

Georgia’s overall security environment is moderate. Tbilisi functions as a normal city for most business purposes: the Georgian state maintains order effectively in urban areas, crime rates are low by European standards, and emergency services are functional. The primary security considerations are regional and political, not criminal.

The unresolved conflicts over South Ossetia and Abkhazia define the outer boundary of Georgia’s security picture. Both are Russian-controlled territories where Georgian law does not apply. FCDO advises against all travel to Abkhazia and against travel within 10km of the South Ossetia administrative boundary line. Within Tbilisi itself, these conflicts are background context rather than daily operational risk.

The Russian relocation effect

Since February 2022, Tbilisi has received significant inflows of Russian nationals and businesses relocating to avoid sanctions and continue international operations. This has reshaped the city’s business environment and its intelligence landscape. Georgian authorities have tolerated this inflow while maintaining formal EU integration aspirations, creating an environment where Russian, Western, and regional intelligence services all operate with heightened activity.

For principals involved in Ukraine support, sanctions compliance, defence sector work, or any activity where Russian intelligence services would have an operational interest, the Tbilisi environment requires specific counter-intelligence awareness. Information security protocols and awareness of surveillance risk are appropriate measures for this category of visitor.

Political demonstrations and civil unrest

Georgia experienced significant political protests in 2023 and 2024, concentrated on Rustaveli Avenue and the area around parliament. The demonstrations reached considerable scale and police deployed tear gas and crowd control measures. The underlying political tensions around EU integration and the government’s direction have not resolved, and further significant demonstrations are plausible.

For business visitors, the practical concern is disruption to movement in the city centre and the risk of being caught near confrontations between protesters and police. Monitoring the political calendar, having alternative routes planned, and using a vetted driver with real-time city awareness are the appropriate precautions.

Our operations in Tbilisi

Our operators have South Caucasus experience and work through Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs-licensed partners. We provide close protection, security drivers, and counter-intelligence briefing for relevant principals.

For the Ukraine conflict context and Kyiv staging requirements see our Kyiv travel assessment. For the broader regional hub perspective see our Istanbul city page.

Source: FCDO Georgia travel advisory (April 2026). Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs private security licensing framework. OSAC Georgia Country Security Report 2025.