The New York Times | December 14, 2025
Thai women were lured to Georgia by the promise of paid surrogacy, but had little power once they arrived–unable to leave, faced with poor living conditions, subject to unknown medical procedures (likely egg extraction), and targeted with abuse.
ABC News | October 25, 2025
The country of Georgia has become a hub for compensated surrogacy, especially for Australian intended parents. However, unethical practices and exploitation of surrogates raise concerns about the industry and the limited regulations governing it.
ChinaFile | October 3, 2025
Georgia and nearby post-Soviet countries are growing in popularity among Chinese parents pursuing parenthood via surrogacy –– a practice banned in China. With increasing demand, legal grey areas and complex parentage processes in China have resulted in exploitation of surrogates and intended parents.
COMPAS | May 2, 2025
Intermediaries in Georgia’s surrogacy industry not only facilitate migration of surrogates from other countries in Central Asia to Georgia, but they also serve as the supervisors of surrogates for clinics. They respond to their needs, but they maintain tight control over surrogates’ lives.
COMPAS | April 30, 2025
Georgia has become a destination for surrogacy, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Demand is so high, clinics recruit women from other countries in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, to come work as surrogates.
Ms. Magazine | March 2, 2025
Inconsistent laws and regulations governing surrogacy in different countries have led to underground operations that enable unethical practices and exploitation––including in Turkey, Georgia, and Northern Cyprus.
February 13, 2025 | Radio Free Europe
Thai authorities are investigating claims from three Thai women, who say they traveled to Georgia under the pretense of surrogacy only to be forced into a Chinese crime syndicate’s “egg harvesting” operation. The Chinese company says they facilitate surrogacy arrangements with contracts and are not holding surrogates in Georgia against their will.
La Croix International | September 10, 2024
In part due to the war in Ukraine, demand for surrogacy in nearby Georgia has surged, so much so that there is a shortage of surrogates. In response, clinics have recruited people from Central Asia, whom they pay less for the same services.
Progress Educational Trust | September 25, 2023
With the growing global demand for surrogacy, and a narrowing range of options as countries close their doors to foreigners seeking surrogates, intended parents are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate cross-border surrogacy arrangements in an ethical way.
Al Jazeera | September 6, 2023
The Georgian government is planning to ban compensated surrogacy for foreigners. Some critics point to the conservative political agenda behind the bill. It will likely put pressure on surrogacy industries in the US and Canada and emerging “hubs” in Argentina, Mexico, and Uganda.
