Couples looking to have children often turn to surrogacy agencies in Georgia without understanding the hidden costs

Three years ago, Olga and Daniel, both now in their 40s, decided to pursue surrogacy in Russia. However, surrogacy is illegal in Germany, and the couple sought alternatives. International surrogacy agencies had been banned from signing contracts with foreign customers since 2022, leading the couple to turn to Georgia. Georgia has become a hub for surrogacy, with over 3,000 surrogate mothers registered in 2023, giving birth to over 5,000 children since 2012.

In 2023, the number of children born through surrogacy in Georgia rose to over 1,100 due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Anastasia, a 39-year-old surrogate mother from Russia, has carried three surrogate pregnancies, including one for a Japanese couple. She explained that the process in Georgia was relatively easy and cost-effective, with agencies charging around €45,000 to €55,000. Other surrogate mothers echoed similar experiences, with salaries between €18,000 and €28,000, and additional premiums for birthing twins.

Daniel and Olga spent months searching for a suitable surrogacy agency in Georgia, and eventually found a Russian-Georgian agency that provided a list of surrogate mothers from various countries. They met a 30-year-old surrogate mother from Ukraine who had previously carried a surrogate pregnancy for a European couple. The agency set up a Zoom call to discuss the process, but Olga expressed concerns about the limited time to make a final decision.

Upon arriving in Georgia, the couple met Elena, the surrogate mother, who had agreed to return to Ukraine for a few months after the embryo was implanted. However, Georgia's laws only regulate the relationship between surrogate mothers, intended parents, and clinics, leaving several concerns unregulated. Human rights groups argue that the practice in Georgia violates women's rights to reproductive self-determination, with agencies primarily driven by financial interests.