P 141223Z JAN 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0760

UNCLAS TBILISI 000077 
 
 
FOR DS/OSAC AND DS/IP/EUR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER ASEC GG
SUBJECT: TBILISI OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT - JANUARY 2009 
 
REF: 08 STATE 132056 
 
 
¶1. (U) Overall Crime and Safety Situation:  There are regular 
reports of crimes against Americans and other westerners  in 
Tbilisi and Georgia as a whole, although the level of violent 
crime has decreased due to improvements in the standard of 
living and more visible law enforcement presence in the last 
few years. 
 
¶A. Crime Threats:  Crimes reported to the US Embassy in the 
last few years have included rape, armed robbery, simple 
assault, aggravated assault, road rage vehicular assault, 
sexual assault, xenophoia-based harassment, cell phone 
theft, smash and grab theft from vehicles, car vandalism, 
among others.  The perpetrators of these crimes tend to be 
young males between the ages of 15 to 30. 
 
There have also been reports of nuisance street children who 
have been known to badger, hassle, and behave aggressively 
toward foreigners.  It is best to ignore and avoid these 
children since engaging them can further their aggressiveness. 
 
There are periodic reports of violence and intimidation 
against foreigners in bars, nightclubs and similar venues. 
Local men routinely imbibe large amounts of alcohol in these 
venues and they can be quite aggressive in their attempts to 
cajole foreigners to join in the heavy drinking.  Refusing an 
offered drink from a Georgian is considered an insult, so 
tact and graciousness are important in preventing conflict. 
 
¶B. Safety:  RSO Tbilisi discourages the use of the 
underground Metro, the marshrutka (fixed route) mini-buses, 
and any other form of public transportation other than 
established taxi cab services. 
 
Driving in Georgia can be extremely hazardous.  Most 
Americans and other foreigners find local drivers to exhibit 
little lane discipline and frequently encroach from the 
opposite lanes of traffic.  Seatbelts should be worn at all 
times. 
 
Automobile travel between cites after sundown is strongly 
discouraged due to poor road conditions, insufficient 
lighting, increased likelihood of encountering drunk drivers, 
and heightened vulnerability to crime during vehicle 
malfunctions, stops, etc. 
 
¶2. (U) Political Violence:  There is currently no known 
threat of political violence directed specifically toward 
Americans.  However, there is a substantial threat to 
Americans in regard to being in the wrong place at the wrong 
time. 
 
¶A. Historical Perspective:  In August 2008,  exchange of 
gunfire and artillery between Georgian and South Ossetian 
forces escalated into full-blown war between Georgia and 
Russia.  Russian forces systematically attacked Georgian 
military targets around the country and occupied key 
locations around Georgia, most notably Gori, which virtually 
severed movement and access from eastern and western Georgia. 
 
Russian forces eventually pulled most of their forces back 
into the separatist-controlled enclaves, but the areas of 
Georgia contiguous to Abkhazia and South Ossetia have seen 
periodic incursions from separatist forces who engage in 
shootings, kidnappings, remotely-detonated car bombings, 
boobytrap mine settings, and other acts of violence.  These 
acts have been primarily targeting police and Georgian 
military personnel, but civilians and international observers 
have been targeted as well.  Russian forces are stationed in 
the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as well 
as in Peravi, outside South Ossetia, the Akalgori region of 
South Ossetia, as well as the Kodori Gorge area of Abkhazia, 
which was controlled by the Georgian government before the 
war. 
 
In November 2007, week-long anti-government protests 
culminated in violent clashes with police and a state of 
emergency.  President Saakashvili called early elections, and 
Qemergency.  President Saakashvili called early elections, and 
as required by the constitution, stepped down from power to 
participate in new elections in January 2008.  Saakashvili 
won the new election although there were protests alleging 
election fraud, although most international election 
observers noted the level of documented fraud would not have 
affected the election outcome. 
 
¶B. Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime:  Most of the 
regional terrorism emanates from areas along the 
administrative boundaries of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with 
undisputed Georgian territory, and it takes the form of 
attacks and incursions from South Ossetian and Abkhaz 
militia, sometimes backed by Russian soldiers. 
 
Organized crime has been on the wane since the 2005 adoption 
 
of "Anti-Thief In Law" legislation, so most Georgian 
organized crime growth takes place outside of Georgia.  Lower 
level organized crime in the form of street gangs, does 
appear to be a growing trend. 
 
¶C. International or Transnational Terrorism:  There were no 
known acts of transnational terrorism committed in Georgia in 
2008, but Georgia's close proximity to countries burdened by 
terrorism and its lack of complete border control still 
render the country vulnerable to such activity.  Georgia is 
still used, to a limited degree, as a transit state for 
weapons and funding. 
 
Georgia is party to nine international counterterrorism 
conventions, and it cooperates within its capability to 
detect threats of terrorism.  To date, neither the US Embassy 
nor the Georgian government has identified any transnational 
terrorist groups operating or seeking to operate within 
Georgian borders. 
 
¶D. Civil Unrest:  The civil unrest in November 2007 included 
one day of violent clashes with police.  Georgia has not 
experienced similar violent civil unrest since that time. 
 
¶3. (U) Post-Specific Concerns: 
 
¶A. Earthquakes and Floods: Georgia is situated in an 
earthquake zone.  Since 1800, 350 earthquakes of six points 
or less (Richter Scale) have occurred.  The biggest 
earthquakes took place in 1918 and 1920 and they were 
believed to be of the magnitude of eight to nine points.  The 
most recent earthquake recorded in Tbilisi occurred in 
December 2005 which registered three points. 
 
¶B. Industrial and Transportation Accidents: N/A 
 
¶C. Kidnappings:  The threat to Americans of kidnapping exists 
both within and outside of Tbilisi.  However, in recent years 
instances of kidnappings have been significantly reduced with 
only a few reported instances of bridal or parental 
abductions involving American citizens. 
 
¶D. Drugs and Narco-Terrorism:  Georgia has been assessed as 
an end user destination for various forms of illicit drugs. 
Most crimes against persons reported to the embassy have 
involved perpetrators thought to be under the influence of 
controlled substances.  In 2007, the government of Georgia 
adopted a national Anti-Drug Strategy, increased penalties 
for drug offenses and adopted new anti-drug legislation.  The 
Georgian government is also continuing efforts to increase 
border security with the support of the US Government, the 
European Union and other international donors. 
 
Illegal importation and sale of Subutex, a particularly 
pervasive drug in Georgia, has decreased in the last few 
years with the cooperation of Georgian and French law 
enforcement. 
 
¶4. (U)  Police Response:  Police response in Tbilisi is 
varied ranging from several minutes to an hour in some cases. 
 Police response outside of Tbilisi can be considerably 
longer in the more remote areas.  Despite much progress in 
the Georgian government's efforts to reform police and fight 
internal corruption, serious concerns remain as to the 
police's ability to deter criminal activity or to conduct 
effective post-incident investigations. 
 
¶A. How to Handle Police Detention or Harassment:  Private 
American citizens who have been detained or harassed by the 
police should contact the US Embassy's American Citizen 
Services unit in the consular section. 
 
¶B. Where to Turn for Assistance: Private American citizens 
who have been victims of crime should contact the US 
Embassy's American Citizen Services unit in the Consular 
Section (995-32-27-7000, extension 7137) or the Regional 
Security Office (995-32-27-7000, extension 7188).  After 
hours, private American citizens should contact the Embassy 
Duty Officer at 899-57-39-69 (or 995-99-57-39-69 if dialing 
QDuty Officer at 899-57-39-69 (or 995-99-57-39-69 if dialing 
from outside Georgia) or Embassy main phone number 
995-32-27-7000. 
 
The Consular Section has information available to assist 
victims of crime seeking assistance from local police, 
medical attention, finding a local attorney, contacting 
family or relatives in the United States, and contacting 
airlines regarding travel arrangements. 
 
Please consult the Consular Information website 
http://travel.state.gov click the international travel 
section, then search for the country of Georgia for more 
information. 
 
Also be aware that the local police emergency phone number is 
 
¶022. 
 
¶5. Medical Emergencies:  The local phone number for medical 
emergencies is 033. 
 
¶A. Contact Information for Medical Providers:  For medical 
emergencies, the Embassy health unit advises American 
citizens to consider MediClub (899-58-19-91) or the emergency 
and general physicians at IMSS (899-56-12-53).  It is highly 
recommended for both short term and long term travelers to 
purchase overseas medical insurance and medical evacuation 
insurance.  An emergency medical evacuation from Georgia to 
western Europe can cost approximately $100,000.  Two overseas 
medical insurers used by Americans in the past are 
International SOS, www.internationalsos.com (1-215-942-8000), 
and MEDEX Assist, www.medexassist.com (1-800-732-5309). 
 
¶B. Air Ambulance Services:  The above mentioned insurance 
providers offer 24/7 air ambulance service and emergency 
medical assistance if deemed required by local medical 
professionals. 
 
¶6. (U)  Travel Precautions:  In light of the high crime 
environment, all American citizens visiting Georgia are 
strongly advised to maintain keen security awareness and 
exercise basic security precautions.  They should vary routes 
and times, especially when traveling between places of 
residence to work locations.  They should maintain a low 
profile by not carrying large amounts of cash or displaying 
jewelry.  Additionally, Americans should be aware of their 
surroundings, travel in pairs or groups, and stay on main 
streets where possible. 
 
It is also recommended that those traveling throughout the 
country do so only in the daylight hours, and that they 
provide travel itinerary and contact information to friends 
or colleagues. 
 
The driving culture is very dangerous and automobile 
travelers should wear seatbelts and drive defensively at all 
times. 
 
¶A. The taxi cab industry is poorly regulated; foreigners are 
often charged rates higher than those of local residents.  It 
is advised to negotiate a fare before utilizing a local taxi. 
In addition, there have been instances where cab drivers 
have taken unsuspecting passengers to areas where they are 
robbed.  It is therefore advised that visitors only utilize 
reputable and established taxi services that are run by 
companies and not private individuals. 
 
¶7. (U) OSAC Country Council:  An OSAC Country Council was 
established in 2004 but it is not active. 
 
 
TEFFT