Pregnant UK Teen to Be Freed from Georgian Jail

Published: 03 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The British teenager Bella May Culley, who has spent the past six months in a Georgian prison on drug-smuggling charges, is expected to be released on Monday, according to reports from Tbilisi. Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili confirmed to the Associated Press that Culley’s release had been approved after legal negotiations, ending months of uncertainty surrounding her fate.

Culley, 19, who is pregnant, was detained in May at Tbilisi International Airport after authorities allegedly discovered 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage. The arrest shocked her family in Teesside, north-east England, and triggered widespread concern over her treatment in custody.

Although the verdict in her case has not yet been formally delivered, the Georgian prosecutor’s office said that the decision had been made to “take into account the time already served” by Culley. She is expected to receive her passport and be allowed to leave Georgia shortly after her release, her lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia told local media.

Initially, Culley faced a possible 15-year prison term or life imprisonment, a sentence that could have been devastating given her age and pregnancy. However, negotiations between her legal team and Georgian prosecutors led to a plea bargain, under which Culley’s family reportedly paid 500,000 lari (approximately £137,000) to secure her release.

In Georgia, a country of around 3.7 million people situated between Europe and Asia, plea deals are a common practice, especially in drug-related cases. The law permits financial settlements that can significantly reduce or even eliminate custodial sentences in certain situations.

Culley’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, has been an active voice in the campaign to secure her daughter’s release. Speaking to reporters outside their family home in Teesside, Kennedy expressed deep relief at the news, saying that “this has been a nightmare for all of us, and I can finally breathe again.” She also confirmed the payment made under the plea agreement but emphasised that her priority was ensuring Bella’s safe return home and access to medical care during her pregnancy.

Culley’s case has drawn widespread media attention due to its complex international elements. Before her arrest, she had been reported missing in Thailand, where she had been travelling earlier in the year. Following her detention in Georgia, she claimed that she had been tortured and coerced into carrying the drugs from Thailand to Tbilisi. Her lawyer, Salakaia, stated that she bore visible signs of physical abuse upon arrival in Georgia, including bruises and other injuries consistent with mistreatment.

The allegations of torture have sparked international concern, with human rights organisations urging both Georgian and Thai authorities to conduct thorough investigations. The UK Foreign Office has also been monitoring the case closely, offering consular support to Culley and her family.

British diplomatic officials in Tbilisi have been liaising with local authorities to ensure that Culley’s rights were upheld during detention and trial proceedings. While the British government has refrained from commenting directly on the plea deal, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office reiterated the UK’s commitment to assisting British citizens abroad who face legal difficulties.

Culley’s release marks a turning point in a story that began with shock and disbelief. Many have expressed sympathy for the young woman, particularly given her age, pregnancy, and the reports of coercion. Her supporters argue that she may have been a victim of an international trafficking network, rather than a deliberate participant in drug smuggling.

Legal analysts note that Georgia’s plea bargaining system, though controversial, has provided a pathway for leniency in cases involving foreign nationals where mitigating circumstances exist. In this instance, Culley’s pregnancy and the allegations of torture likely played a significant role in the decision to grant her release.

As the teenager prepares to leave Georgia, her lawyer said that arrangements were being made for her to travel to London via Istanbul, where she would undergo medical checkups before reuniting with her family. “She just wants to go home, see her mother, and put this behind her,” Salakaia said.

Culley’s story has resonated widely on social media, where thousands have shared messages of support and called for greater protection for vulnerable travellers abroad. Her release may not only bring relief to her family but also reignite debates over international justice, human trafficking, and the treatment of foreign detainees.

As of Monday evening, Georgian media confirmed that authorities were finalising paperwork to allow Culley’s departure from Tbilisi. Her family, waiting anxiously in Teesside, has expressed gratitude to those who supported them through months of uncertainty, saying they now hope for “a peaceful and healthy new beginning” for both Bella and her unborn child.