Pregnant British woman in Georgia could be freed if plea is finalised

A pregnant British woman detained in Georgia on drug‑smuggling charges may be freed if a plea agreement under negotiation is finalised, a court heard on Tuesday, with judges setting the next hearing for October 9 and denying bail in the meantime. Lawyers said the arrangement could allow the woman, identified in court as Bella Culley, to avoid further jail time by paying a substantial fine, though details of any sum and the precise terms remain unresolved.

Culley, who family and lawyers describe as a teenager from Billingham on Teesside, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport in May after arriving on a flight from Thailand. Accounts vary on her age, with local police confirming an 18‑year‑old from Billingham was detained and other reports saying she celebrated a 19th birthday in custody. Court documents and media accounts differed on the quantities and value of the narcotics allegedly found in her luggage, citing figures such as roughly 14 kilograms or 31 pounds and an estimated street value of about 200,000. Prosecutors say she faces long prison terms if convicted, with some counts carrying penalties of up to 20 years.

Her defence team, led by lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia,...