How safe are Armenia and Georgia

Use usual precautions. But most of the professionals head to western Europe where there’s more profit to be made.

Never heard pick pockets were a thing there?

Otherwise, follow the US State advisories. Right now Armenia is a Level 2 (like Germany). Georgia is a level 1 except for South Ossetia and Abkhazia which are 4. I would keep my distance from them. Both countries are experiencing new tensions with russia but I suspect there will be lots of warning before shots are fired. I believe the street protests continue in Tiblisi (could be wrong, check me on that) and those have turned violent from time to time. I would go in a heart beat. Just use common sense.

The State Dept. website will provide the latest information - https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html .

It's also a good idea to verify that any medications you take will be legal in those two countries. A young traveller from B.C. recently learned about that "the hard way" - https://globalnews.ca/news/11970902/bc-man-terror-isolation-prescription-adhd-medication-arrest-georgia/ .

You might also find it helpful to check the Canadian government travel advisories....

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/georgia
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/armenia

I also like to check the "Health" section of the government websites, including vaccinations.

Ken,
My prescriptions are to reduce cholesterol, high blood pressure and muscle relaxer for my arthritis in my lower back.
Shouldn't be a problem.

It gets more interesting ...

In response to the growing number of cases, Israel’s Foreign Ministry
has issued an official warning, stressing that authorities in Georgia
are enforcing the laws in an extreme manner, even when it comes to
medications that are sold in Israel without a prescription. The
ministry recommends checking in advance the list of permitted
substances, always carrying a medical prescription translated into
English with a notary stamp, and keeping medications only in carry-on
luggage and only in quantities intended for personal use. In any case
of doubt, travelers are advised to contact the embassy before the
flight.

This can probably be avoided by not wearing your kippah when you enter the country.

https://www.hidabroot.com/article/21350

This might be helpful: https://www.rs.ge/BorderCrossing-en?cat=11&tab=1

Thanks Mr. E,
I did a search on the Georgia website that listed the drugs that would be a problem.
None of my drugs were listed.

If it were me, I would still conform to all of the other requirements. What is interesting is for a European because of the way the system works, thats pretty easy to do. For an American it takes a few additional steps.

Back to the original question on pickpocketing...we were in Georgia for 10 days in April. Mostly Tbilisi, with 3 or 4 days in the east. Absolutely no issue whatsoever, anywhere. Its like they've never yet heard that's a thing.

No roving kids trying to distract you, no ring scam, no pushing and shoving distractions, no bracelet scams. Nothing.

Relax and enjoy your time there and remember to look up and smile at all the security cameras.

Mr. E.

At the time I posted my reply last night, I had no idea what (if any) medications the OP would be travelling with. I simply wanted to point out that laws might be more strictly enforced in Georgia. Regardless of how objective the news report was, the bottom line was that the poor lad spent several months in jail. I also provided links for two government websites to provide an additional source of information. Each traveller can decide which (if any) of the information is useful for the specifics of their travels.

I used to work in Yerevan every couple of months, and have visited the region from time to time.

There are practically zero issues with pickpockets, if you can deal with Rome or Barcelona (which of course almost everyone does), then Yerevan or Tblisi are child's play

Ken, I thought your post was very helpful. My comment on the objectivity doesn't diminish anything. Someone who is smart I think will say that without all the facts I behave most cautiously. I always travel that way.

By the way, also not a country where I would leave my passport in the hotel safe.

Mr. E,

Thanks for the nice reply.

I wouldn't leave my Passport (or anything else valuable) in any hotel room safe! As a former Locksmith, I've learned that these devices are very easily compromised by anyone with even minimal skills.

My normal practice is to carry my Passport with me at all times, usually in my money belt. Experience has demonstrated that having it with me is a really good idea. When I was injured in Italy a few years ago, the first thing that the hospital asked for was my Passport. While a copy may have sufficed, there was another problem. My pack and all my travel gear were in a hotel some distance away, and there was some doubt whether I would ever be able to retrieve it. I resigned myself to the fact that I may have to abandon the whole kit and fly home with what I was wearing. Without the Passport that would have been a problem. Thankfully a helpful nurse was able to find a solution. She spent about two days trying to find someone who could deliver the pack to the hospital. That turned out to be a rather expensive service (about 100€ as I recall) but fortunately I had the cash available.

Ken, your experience is an example of why tge only proper answer to the passport question is to say keep it on you. I am very old school and if I had suggested otherwise I would feel personally responsible for the results.

Even here, when I go to the doctor, I have to show my passport. I also need it at the bank, even to exchange a damaged bill. But more fundamentally in exchange for residency I agreed to obey the laws, and to carry it is the law. (And its tge law in Georgia too ... and apparently it is required for some purchases too).

Armenia announced it's official, it will seek EU membership. Pretty much expected but it is currently part of russia's Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization so it will have to quit those. There is a history of that upsetting old friends.