Seen and silenced: How Russian surveillance software suppresses Georgian civilians rights

Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has spent two years building Polyface, a facial recognition system procured from Papillon AO, a sanctioned Moscow company with FSB ties whose products are also used by Russian law enforcement and allied autocracies. The system helped identify protester Nino from footage months after a demonstration, resulting in a GEL 5,000 fine and frozen bank accounts, part of at least GEL 2 million in penalties imposed on protesters by March 2025.

The crackdown followed the ruling Georgian Dream party's move to suspend EU accession talks after disputed 2024 elections, despite 86% public support for EU integration and a constitutional requirement to pursue it. Assembly rights have been steadily narrowed: covering one's face became an offense in 2024, blocking roads and gathering without registration became criminal in 2025, and criticizing the government online became a criminal act by 2026. Police have also used water cannons and rubber bullets, with the Public Defender's Office recording 282 cases of physical abuse and at least 486 detentions in two months alone.

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