Over the past two years, Georgian authorities have rolled out an extensive facial recognition system using technology acquired from a Moscow-based company with links to Russia's FSB security service. According to human rights advocates, this has led to tighter surveillance of citizens, particularly those who take part in protest rallies. The system allows authorities to identify rally participants, which critics say is being used for subsequent pressure and persecution of activists. Experts point out that this kind of cooperation between Georgian authorities and Russian technology suppliers raises concerns about the country's independence from Moscow's influence in matters of security and population control. Activists and civil society representatives note that the consequences of using the surveillance system are already being felt: protest participants face detentions, fines, and other forms of pressure after their faces have been identified using the new technology. Observers emphasize that such practices restrict freedom of assembly and expression, creating an atmosphere of fear among the population. The question of the origin and use of surveillance technology in Georgia raises broader discussions about the balance between security and the protection of civil rights, as well as the extent of Russia's influence on the domestic politics of neighboring states through the supply of dual-use technologies.