Surrogacy on the Rise in Georgia Amid Permissive Laws

A growing number of couples are turning to surrogacy as a means of starting or expanding their families, but this trend has raised concerns about the ethics and implications of the practice.

The complexities surrounding surrogacy have become particularly apparent in Germany, where the service is prohibited by law. This has led many individuals seeking surrogacy services to explore alternative options abroad. For some German citizens, such as Olga, a 40-year-old woman born and raised in Russia but now living in Hamburg, this means traveling to other countries with more permissive laws.

Georgia, a mountainous country located in the Caucasus region, has emerged as a significant hub for surrogacy services. In recent years, numerous agencies have established themselves there, facilitating connections between intended parents and surrogate mothers from around the world. According to official statistics, over 3,000 surrogate mothers were registered in Georgia last year alone.

The number of children born through surrogacy in Georgia has seen a dramatic increase since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Between 2021 and 2023, the country witnessed a significant surge in births resulting from surrogacy arrangements. In fact, an estimated 300 surrogate mothers gave birth in 2021, but this number skyrocketed to over 1,100 by 2023.

Anastasia, a 39-year-old Russian woman working as a surrogate in Georgia, has been involved in the process for several years. With three successful pregnancies under her belt, she has used the compensation from surrogacy to finance important personal goals, such as paying off a mortgage.

The surrogacy industry has been booming in Georgia, attracting a large number of clients from abroad who are seeking more affordable options compared to other countries.

Anastasia is one of the many women who have opted for surrogacy in Georgia after completing two previous pregnancies in Russia. She carried a Japanese couple's embryo to term in a Georgian clinic, having returned to the country when she was 22 weeks pregnant.

The conditions at some clinics in Georgia seem to vary, with Anastasia noting that her experience was relatively smooth compared to other women who gave birth there. They reported difficulties in receiving payment after giving birth, which is not what one would expect from a service.

According to estimates, around 19 clinics across Georgia offer surrogacy services, with costs averaging between €45,000 and €55,000. This is significantly lower than the prices charged by agencies in other countries, making Georgia an attractive destination for clients seeking more affordable options.

The surrogate mothers themselves also benefit from the service, earning on average between €18,000 and €28,000 per pregnancy, with premiums paid out for carrying twins or other complications.

The process of selecting a surrogate mother in Georgia can be complex and time-consuming. Daniel and Olga, a couple from Hamburg, spent months searching for a suitable agency before finally being presented with a list of potential surrogates from various countries.

Their concerns about the health and well-being of some of these women were not entirely alleviated by the agencies they contacted. As medical professionals themselves, they had questions about the physical health and possible genetic disorders that could affect the surrogate mothers, but they acknowledge that perhaps their inquiries were too probing.

The couple eventually chose a 30-year-old woman from Ukraine who had previously acted as a surrogate mother for another European couple. However, even with this background information, they felt that a single Zoom call did not provide sufficient insight into her suitability for the role.

Elena, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, made a positive impression on Daniel and Olga during their meeting in Tbilisi. She showed them pictures of her children and expressed her desire to use the money earned from surrogacy to renovate her apartment, which seemed like a genuine motivation for her involvement.

The agency's initial reluctance to bring Elena to meet the couple added to their suspicions about the agencies' transparency regarding the surrogate mothers they represented.

The initial agreement between Olga and Daniel was that their surrogate would live in a rented apartment in Tbilisi throughout her pregnancy. However, it turned out that Elena returned to Ukraine after the embryo was implanted, despite ongoing conflict in the region.

Georgian laws governing surrogacy have significant loopholes, according to human rights lawyer Nino Bogveradze. While they address the relationships between surrogate mothers, intended parents, and clinics, they fail to consider the roles played by agencies involved in these arrangements.

In Georgia, surrogate mothers have limited rights, particularly when it comes to their pregnancy, medical care, or payment. These concerns are typically addressed through contracts between the parties involved, rather than being regulated by national law.

The Georgian government does not set minimum standards for social guarantees or contractual terms in surrogacy agreements. This lack of oversight can leave surrogate mothers vulnerable and exposed to exploitation.

Surrogacy laws vary widely across different regions, including Africa, where a patchwork of regulations exists. However, even within countries with more developed legal frameworks, there are often significant gaps in protection for surrogate mothers.

The interests driving agencies involved in surrogacy are multifaceted, according to Olga Doletskaya from the University of Leeds. While they may claim to be helping people achieve their dream of parenthood, financial motivations are a primary driver behind these arrangements.

Olga and Daniel from Hamburg claim they were pressured into making a decision about their surrogacy arrangement quickly, as several other couples were also interested in the same surrogate mother.

The agency allegedly stressed that it had borne the cost of bringing the potential surrogate to Georgia, despite this not being explicitly stated in their contract. This added to Olga's emotional distress, which she described as feeling manipulated by the agency.

The couple ultimately decided to put their plans for surrogacy on hold, at least for now, after returning to Germany with mixed emotions about the experience.