India Insights: Cultural Clash or Casual Racism? Indians in Georgia Caught in the Middle
Sergio Mendoza Hochmann
When Suman, a medical student landed in Tbilisi, he expected to begin the next chapter of his education. Instead, he found himself detained at the airport, handcuffed, allegedly assaulted, mocked for his skin color, denied food and water, and deported within 48 hours, despite holding a valid Georgian visa. His case, widely reported by the Indian media has sent ripples through the Indian community in Georgia and beyond.
While the Georgian authorities have not issued a formal statement, the student’s family has hired legal counsel and accused immigration officials of racial profiling and misconduct. The details are harrowing, but what has unsettled many Indian students and professionals in Georgia is the sense that this might not be an isolated case.
For years, Georgia, like Russia and Ukraine, has been a popular and affordable destination for Indian medical students. But this incident has punctured that perception, raising urgent questions: Was Suman’s experience the result of bureaucratic overreach, or does it point to a deeper discomfort with India’s growing presence in this post-Soviet nation? Are students facing isolated hostility, or are they encountering a quiet rise in xenophobia masked as routine enforcement?
Why Is Georgia Popular With Indian Students?
In recent years, Georgia has emerged as a magnet for Indian students. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of Indian medical aspirants enrolling in Georgian universities rose sharply from approximately 8,000 to an estimated 12,000–16,000. Overall, more than 20,000 Indian students are now studying across all disciplines in Georgia.
Several factors explain Georgia’s appeal. Medical programs are offered entirely in English at many top institutions, including Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU), with streamlined admission and visa procedures that bypass additional entrance exams. Tuition typically ranges from $4,000 to
$8,000 per year, while living costs in cities like Tbilisi average $300 to $500 per month, keeping total annual expenses competitive with Western destinations and, in some cases, even Indian medical schools.
Suman’s Case – What We Know
In July 2025, Suman was abruptly deported from Georgia under disturbing circumstances. He had spent nearly three years navigating bureaucratic hurdles to renew his visa and Temporary Residence Card (TRC), was allegedly detained by plainclothes officers, handcuffed, physically assaulted, mocked for the color of his skin, denied water, and spat upon. He spent two days in custody before being deported over allegedly minor paperwork discrepancies. His family had hired a lawyer, but the justification for the deportation remained weak and unclear.
Since the incident, Suman’s mother Meera has spoken to multiple Indian media outlets highlighting the racism her son faced in Georgia. She said, “They destroyed his dreams and treated him like a criminal just because of his skin color.”
However, this is not a singular event. An Indian tourist visiting Georgia also recounted a similar experience. Rajesh was detained upon arrival despite holding a valid e‑visa and return ticket, and subsequently deported without due explanation. An immigration lawyer in Tbilisi has observed a sharp increase in deportations affecting Indian and Pakistani nationals, even those with valid visas, attributable to arbitrary enforcement and “unspoken racial profiling” in Georgia’s EU-aligned migration policy.
For many Indian students and their families, Suman’s ordeal was deeply unsettling. It shattered assumptions of safety and fairness in a country long described as welcoming, highlighting how a single case can ignite broader fears about racial bias.
Perceptions Versus Patterns
In June 2022, Civil.ge reported that South Asian medical students in Georgia, particularly at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU), had begun to express concerns about xenophobia and racism. Approximately 2,000 Indian students were enrolled at TSMU at that time, comprising about 26% of the student body. Students reported facing instances of xenophobia and racism, which diminished their perception of the country.
Students shared experiences of discrimination, such as being denied entry upon arrival despite having valid documentation, and facing difficulties in securing housing. Some rental listings explicitly indicated a preference against tenants from certain national or ethnic backgrounds, and students
reported that negative experiences with previous tenants sometimes made
homeowners reluctant to rent to other South Asian students. Additionally,
some students described feeling socially excluded, with interactions at times influenced by misconceptions and stereotypes about their communities.
While these reports suggest that some Indian students have faced challenges, there is no evidence of widespread assaults or systemic housing discrimination. However, the cumulative effect of these microaggressions and discriminatory practices has contributed to a sense of unease among the community. Many students now question whether Georgia remains a welcoming destination for international students, especially as they consider their future plans post-graduation.
The Indian Government’s Role
As of August 2025, the Indian government has not issued a formal statement or travel advisory in response to the deportation of Indian students from Georgia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not publicly addressed the allegations of racial profiling or mistreatment reported by Indian nationals in Georgia. This silence has left many students and their families feeling unsupported and vulnerable.
The Indian Embassy in Tbilisi, which serves as the primary diplomatic mission for Indian citizens in Georgia, has not publicly commented on the recent incidents either. This lack of response has raised concerns about the embassy's capacity to advocate for the safety and rights of Indian nationals abroad.
Balancing diplomatic relations with host countries while ensuring the protection of citizens abroad is a complex challenge. Hence, people are still awaiting a formal statement from the Indian Government on the issue.
The deportation of a single Indian medical student from Georgia in 2025 is far more than a legal or bureaucratic anomaly. It has become a powerful symbol of the challenges faced by a growing community caught between opportunity and alienation. This incident raises urgent questions about the adequacy of Georgia’s integration policies and the protections in place for foreign students and migrants.
As India’s presence in Georgia continues to grow, the nation must confront whether it can truly live up to its image as a welcoming destination. Will Georgia embrace multiculturalism and diversity, or is it veering toward exclusion and hostility?
The answer to this question will shape not only the future of Indian students in Georgia but also the country’s identity and place in an increasingly globalized world.
