According to the Minister of Justice, the Ministerial Decree concerns surrogacy rather than in vitro fertilization

Minister of Justice, Tea Tsulukiani clarifies who is affected by the Minister's order on changes in the birth of a child through surrogacy.

According to Tsulukiani, the change does not concern in vitro ferilization, but the process of surrogacy. As Tsulukiani stated, the changes are aimed at preventing transnational crime of trafficking of infants.

The Minister notes that the changes should prevent the fictitious couples to have a child in Georgia for the criminal purposes.

"Behind this false information, in my opinion, are those private companies that receive very large financial benefits through bringing foreign couples in Georgia - when children are born in Georgia through surrogacy and then taken from the country. Under no circumstances does the Minister of Justice and the Ministry have the authority to regulate artificial fertilization issues. Accordingly, nothing can change in the area where the Minister does not have the authority. Therefore, no new rules are introduced in the process of artificial fertilization. This is false information and I want to urge all doctors not to scare patients. No new rules have been introduced in this area and there won't be any, especially by the Ministry of Justice, which is not an authorized agency.

The new rule that has been introduced concerns surrogacy. We have the following situation in surrogacy: 100% of surrogate mothers who place an embryo made of other biological material in their body in exchange for payment, are Georgian citizens while 98% of those who use surrogacy services in Georgia, are foreigners. Therefore, the introduced new rule continues to interpret the couple as a woman and man again. In addition, the new rule is that we must prevent transnational crime of infant trafficking and prevent a child born in surrogacy in Georgia from becoming a subject of sexual exploitation, torture, and inhuman treatment, and prevent fictitious couples who give childbirth in Georgia for criminal purposes and take him/her outside Georgia", - stated Tsulukiani.

According to the amendments, a couple of foreign or mixed nationality who decides to have a child through surrogacy, with or without marriage must live together for one year.

"We demand from September 1 that a foreign couple or a mixed couple who apply to the notary must live together for at least a year, with or without marriage, so that we have a couple who really want to have and raise a child, no matter if they have or do not have infertility problems. But, they have to have a child through surrogacy for raising purposes, not to take the child from Georgia and then to violate the his/her rights. Therefore, I urge everyone to refrain from spreading false information. All women, whether married or unmarried, who have planned artificial fertilization can be at peace. The Minister of Justice could not establish any new rules regarding them", - stressed Tsulukiani.