Georgia has become a center for surrogate pregnancies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Deutsche Welle spoke with parents and prospective parents about the hidden costs associated with this growing industry.
Three years ago, a couple from Hamburg, Olga and Daniel (names changed for privacy), sought a surrogate mother, as surrogacy is illegal in Germany. Couples in Germany must pursue legal recognition of parenthood through the courts for children born via surrogacy. Olga, a German citizen born in Russia, and Daniel explored the surrogacy market in Russia, but foreign customers have been prohibited from signing contracts there since 2022. Consequently, they traveled to Georgia, where many international agencies have relocated.
Georgia has emerged as a surrogacy hub, with women from various countries serving as surrogates. According to the Public Service Development Agency of Georgia, over 3,000 surrogate mothers were registered in 2023, and since 2012, they have given birth to more than 5,000 children. The number of births to surrogate mothers has increased significantly, from an estimated 300 in 2021 to over 1,100 in 2023.
Anastasia, a 39-year-old surrogate mother from Russia, has completed three surrogate pregnancies, financing her property down payment through her first surrogacy. She shared her experiences, noting that while her first two surrogacies were in Russia, her third was for a Japanese couple in Georgia. Anastasia indicated that some surrogate mothers faced delays in receiving payments after childbirth.
Estimates suggest there are about 19 clinics offering surrogacy services in Georgia, with average costs ranging from €45,000 to €55,000 ($50,400 to $61,600), significantly lower than in other countries. Surrogate mothers reported average earnings between €18,000 and €28,000, with additional compensation for twins.
Olga and Daniel spent months searching for a surrogacy agency in Georgia. They received a list of potential surrogate mothers from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Georgia, along with detailed process descriptions and lawyer contacts. They expressed concerns about the health information provided by some agencies. They chose a 30-year-old surrogate from Ukraine who had previously been a surrogate.
In spring 2024, the couple traveled to Tbilisi to meet their chosen surrogate, Elena (name changed for privacy). They were initially told that Elena would stay in Tbilisi throughout the pregnancy, but later learned she would return to Ukraine after embryo implantation.
Human rights lawyer Nino Bogveradze highlighted that Georgian laws inadequately regulate the roles of agencies in surrogacy arrangements. Surrogate mothers have limited rights, and many aspects of their care and payment are governed by contracts rather than national law.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized the practices in Georgia for violating women's rights to reproductive self-determination. Olga Doletskaya from the University of Leeds noted that while agencies claim to help couples, they are often motivated by financial interests, leading to the exploitation of surrogate mothers.
Olga and Daniel felt pressured to make quick decisions regarding their surrogate, with the agency emphasizing that other couples were interested in the same surrogate. They returned to Germany with mixed feelings and decided to postpone their plans for surrogacy for the time being.
Mark Sheider and Asja Lokina contributed to this article, which originally appeared in Russian.