Tbilisi City Hall buys surveillance cameras amid pro-European rallies

Tbilisi City Hall’s Transport and Urban Development Agency has procured 121 surveillance cameras and special software licenses through an electronic tender without an auction. The contract, valued at 2,972,620 GEL, was awarded to Delta Consulting on January 20. The tender was initially announced on December 12, 2024, a period marked by ongoing pro-European demonstrations in the capital, during which the Ministry of Internal Affairs was detaining protesters based on video recordings under criminal law.

According to the contract terms, Tbilisi City Hall was required to provide the locations for the installation of the new surveillance cameras within 14 working days, a deadline that expired on February 7. The contracted company has 90 days to complete the installation, which also includes 114 connection points and power supplies, as well as 96 software licenses.

In a related development, a few days ago, surveillance cameras installed on the Parliament building facing Rustaveli Avenue were removed. Currently, technical teams are carrying out work on the avenue, raising questions about whether this activity is linked to the new agreement. Additionally, under the pretext of replacing damaged cameras on Rustaveli Avenue, the 112 emergency service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has purchased 30 surveillance cameras with facial and emotion recognition capabilities. This acquisition cost the state 85,000 GEL and further underscores the increasing role of surveillance technology in Tbilisi’s public spaces.