In 2016, an Israeli couple contacted me, hoping to rent my apartment for several months. They also mentioned that a surrogate mother was about to give birth to their long-awaited child. It took them several weeks to finalize the paperwork, and when they did, they happily showed me their newborn—a spitting image of his parents. At the time, I was unfamiliar with this field, unfamiliar with the fact that Georgia was fast becoming a sought-after destination for desperate couples seeking both financial and professional solutions for surrogacy.
Once celebrated as a global hub for reproductive tourism, Georgia’s surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) industry is now facing a crisis that threatens its reputation. A string of incidents involving human trafficking and unethical practices has raised serious concerns, casting a shadow over what was a rapidly growing sector.
It all began with a tragedy: the death of a baby at one of Georgia’s surrogacy houses. The incident triggered an investigation that revealed troubling practices within the industry. Known for its affordable services and favorable legal environment, Georgia had become a popular destination for international couples seeking surrogacy and IVF. However, the newfound attention exposed deep flaws in the system, including the exploitation of surrogate mothers and legal loopholes that left both surrogates and intended parents vulnerable.
Recent revelations have only intensified these concerns, with allegations of coercion and unethical practices resurfacing. One of the most high-profile cases involves the BabyCam Medical Consulting Group, a Chinese-run company registered in Georgia in 2024. The company came under scrutiny after Georgian police, with assistance from Thai authorities and Interpol, removed three Thai women from a surrogacy house in Tbilisi on January 30, 2025. These women claim they were deceived by Chinese brokers, promised between $12,000 and $17,000 for surrogacy, but instead coerced into donating eggs monthly at a clinic.
I visited three large houses that were not heavily secured, nor were they officially recognized as mass surrogacy houses. During one visit to a surrogacy residence in Tbilisi, I met Hom, a 27-year-old Thai woman who had arrived in Georgia five months earlier to become a surrogate mother. “I’m going to the hospital now for an ultrasound,” she explained. Another surrogate, Nara, insisted that the women were not being forced into egg donation. “No one is stopping us from leaving,” she said. “We follow contractual rules—no outings after 10pm, required medications—but we have passports, phones, and contact with our families.” She denied any coercion, claiming that the women who had left voluntarily simply refused to comply with the contract terms.
However, the situation is far from clear-cut. Despite claims of voluntary participation, many surrogates earn only $300–$500 per month, with a final payment of around $11,000 after childbirth. The Chinese representatives of BabyCam insist that the business is legal and that all agreements are notarized. “There is no Chinese cartel here,” said Li Yuan, who oversees the surrogates’ medical care. “These women came voluntarily and can leave anytime.” His colleague, Tan Jo, who manages BabyCam’s operations, added, “Some women changed their minds after being paid and falsely reported trafficking. Police have already questioned them and found no coercion.”
The criminal investigation is ongoing, and pressure is mounting on the government to regulate the sector more strictly. The debate is not just about ethics, but also about the political landscape surrounding reproductive rights in Georgia. Conservative groups are advocating for stricter laws on surrogacy and assisted reproductive technologies, with some lawmakers even calling for an outright ban on commercial surrogacy. The outcome of these discussions could have far-reaching consequences for Georgia’s reputation as a fertility hub.
International demand for surrogacy in Georgia remains high, particularly from couples in countries where surrogacy is illegal or heavily restricted. However, the recent scandals have led many to reconsider Georgia as a viable destination for reproductive services. As scrutiny intensifies, couples may seek alternatives in other jurisdictions, potentially diminishing Georgia’s status as a global leader in reproductive tourism.
Further complicating matters, Thai authorities are also investigating claims from four Thai women who allege they were lured to Georgia with promises of lucrative surrogacy contracts. They were assured earnings of up to $17,000, plus a $600 monthly wage, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative conditions.
The Thai women’s alleged ordeal highlights the risks of the surrogacy trade. Despite initially claiming coercion, some later retracted their statements. Nonetheless, the allegations underscore the exploitative potential of cross-border fertility operations. One Facebook ad, for example, promised “recruiting beautiful women to donate eggs,” offering as much as 100,000 Baht per cycle and targeting donors from countries such as Thailand, China, and Cambodia. It is evident that vulnerable women are being lured into a system with little oversight.
Georgia’s surrogacy and egg donation industry has long been a beacon of opportunity for couples seeking reproductive assistance, particularly from countries like China, where surrogacy remains banned. Demand has skyrocketed in recent years, largely driven by Chinese clients, leading to the rapid growth of clinics such as LeaderMed. Its founder, Natalia Khonelidze, insists that her clinic adheres strictly to voluntary participation. “I do not believe anything illegal was done,” she said in a phone interview. “Let them investigate.”
Despite mounting pressure, clinics involved in these scandals, such as LeaderMed, continue to assert their innocence. Khonelidze emphasized that all procedures at her clinic are documented and voluntary, and denied any involvement in coercive practices. “Many clinics engage in this practice, but it is always voluntary,” she stated, claiming once again that her clinic operates within the bounds of the law.
The future of Georgia’s surrogacy and IVF industry now hangs in the balance. As the government faces increasing calls for reform and stricter regulations, the negative publicity surrounding these scandals threatens to derail the country’s reputation as a top destination for reproductive services. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Georgia can regain the trust of international clients and continue to thrive as a global leader in reproductive tourism—or if the industry will suffer irreversible damage from the controversies that continue to surface.
During the preparation of this article, Kinderly, a major reproductive clinic, suspended its program of bringing surrogate mothers from abroad after an interview surfaced with a woman who was left pregnant and raising a child alone, without any financial support.
By Helena Bedwell
