Locked-up teenager Bella Culley from the UK is racing against time to return home and give birth to her baby boy after being released from a Georgian prison. Culley, aged 19, endured six months of incarceration in Georgia, relying on makeshift meals cooked in unconventional ways. Now heavily pregnant, she must quickly make her way back to the UK before going into labor, possibly needing special permission to fly due to airline regulations on pregnant passengers.
Efforts are underway by Culley’s family and consular officials to expedite the paperwork for her swift return. Tearful and relieved, Culley was seen outside a Tbilisi courthouse, sharing emotional moments with her family over the phone. Her imprisonment stemmed from being caught with drugs at Tbilisi Airport, but she later revealed being coerced by a violent drug gang.
After a plea deal led to her unexpected release, Culley’s lawyer argued that her advanced pregnancy made further imprisonment inhumane. Now free, Culley is eager to reunite with her family in the UK, where she hopes to welcome her baby in a supportive environment. The conditions at the Georgian prison where she was held were harsh, but in her final weeks, she was moved to a better facility for expectant mothers.
As she readies herself for motherhood, Culley faces the challenge of making it back home in time for her imminent delivery, eager to leave behind the nightmare of her past ordeal.
