Bella Culley, a 19-year-old British teenager, is currently awaiting sentencing in Georgia’s Rustavi Prison Number Five, charged with drug smuggling. Eight months pregnant, Culley has endured harsh conditions since her arrest in May, when authorities discovered 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage at Tbilisi International Airport. Her family has raised £137,000 to reduce her sentence, which could now be as short as two years. Recently transferred to a ‘mother and baby’ unit, Culley’s living conditions have improved significantly, allowing her more freedom and better facilities. Her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, shared with the BBC that Culley now has access to a communal kitchen, a proper toilet, and two hours of daily outdoor time. Culley has been learning Georgian and cooking meals for herself and other inmates. The case has highlighted Georgia’s strict drug laws and the prevalence of plea bargaining, with nearly 90% of drug-related cases resolved this way in 2024. Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, claims she was coerced into carrying the drugs by gangsters who tortured her. Georgian law includes provisions for pregnant women, raising hopes for her release before giving birth. The family remains hopeful, with Kennedy stating they are doing everything possible to bring Culley home.