1759480719

Employees of the Adjara Police Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of various operational measures and investigative actions carried out at different times, detained N.K., born in 1973, as well as foreign citizens M.I., born in 1993, and K.M., born in 2004. They are accused of the illegal acquisition, possession, sale, and facilitation of the sale of narcotic substances in particularly large quantities, the Georgian MIA reported.According to the ministry, the crime carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.“During searches of the suspects’ personal belongings and temporary residences, as well as in various other locations, police seized as material evidence a particularly large amount of narcotic substances prepared for sale, including heroin, morphine, dried marijuana, as well as materials needed for packaging and cultivating narcotic substances.In addition, drugs previously illegally sold by one of the suspects were also seized by police as evidence.The investigation continues under Articles 260, 260¹, and 260² of the Criminal Code,” the statement reads.

1759475546

As part of the fight against illegal migration, employees of the Migration Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs carried out a special immigration control operation, the MIA of Georgia reported.According to the ministry, based on the information obtained, department employees inspected specific locations in order to identify foreign citizens residing in Georgia without legal grounds.“As a result of the comprehensive operation, 14 foreign citizens were detained. Among them are citizens of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. It was established that they were residing in the country in violation of the requirements set by the Law of Georgia ‘On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons.’At present, these individuals have been placed in the temporary detention facility of the Migration Department. Relevant procedures are underway for their expulsion from the country.The Migration Department will continue to regularly carry out special immigration control operations to ensure effective enforcement of the Law of Georgia ‘On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons,’” the statement reads.

1759395794

Police in Georgia detained one foreign citizen on charges of group embezzlement of a large sum of money, while another person was charged in absentia. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.“Employees of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, as a result of operational measures and investigative actions, detained a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, born in 1977, A.M., on charges of embezzling a large sum of money belonging to other persons, committed by a group of individuals in prior collusion and using their official position. In addition, a citizen of Ukraine, born in 1976, R.T., was charged in absentia.The investigation established that the accused had founded LLC Kinderli Georgia, which acted as an intermediary company between biological parents and surrogate mothers. In particular, in order to fulfill its obligations, LLC Kinderli Georgia sought surrogate mothers and concluded contracts with them on behalf of the biological parents, acting as their representatives.It was also established that the accused, acting on behalf of the said LLC, attracted large sums of money from citizens of the People’s Republic of China and, instead of using the funds received from the biological parents for the medical and daily expenses of surrogate mothers, rental housing, and compensation stipulated by the contracts, misappropriated the money for their own benefit by abusing their official position.The investigation is being conducted under subparagraphs “a” and “d” of part 2, as well as subparagraph “b” of part 3 of Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The crime carries a sentence of up to 11 years of imprisonment,” the ministry stated.

1759328687

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged two individuals with fraudulent appropriation of a large sum of money by a group of persons acting in prior agreement, legalization of illegal income, and the creation/use of a forged official document.. This was reported in a statement released by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.According to a statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, the charges also involve the use of forged official documents.“According to an investigation conducted by the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, since February 2023, the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia announced tenders for the design and construction of kindergartens in the municipalities of Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Mtskheta, Ninotsminda, Dedoplistskaro, Gori, and Batumi.To win the announced tenders, the accused created and submitted a forged auditor’s report on the company’s work experience along with other required documentation.After winning the tenders, the accused prematurely requested and received advance payments from the Municipal Development Fund, allegedly to start construction work on the kindergartens, even though in most cases the construction projects had not yet been approved. As a result, under the pretext of project and construction work, members of the criminal group fraudulently appropriated 9,365,000 lari from the Fund, while the construction work stipulated by the contracts was not carried out.In order to give a legal appearance to the fraudulently obtained funds, the accused transferred 1,211,000 lari to a bank account of another company owned by them, allegedly as an advance payment for services to be provided, after which the funds were used for various purposes, including loan repayment. Thus, they legalized and integrated into the financial system a particularly large sum of money obtained through criminal activity.”

1759314803

A traffic accident occurred in the Ortachala district of Tbilisi.According to a reporter from the news agency Newshub.ge at the scene, a trailer hit a pedestrian.The condition of the injured citizen is currently unknown.Newshub.ge is seeking further details from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

1759232551

The incident took place late at night in Chuberi, resulting in the deaths of two people.As the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia told the news agency Newshub.ge, an investigation has been launched under Article 276 of the Criminal Code, which covers violations of traffic safety or vehicle operation rules that result in the loss of human life.According to available reports, a married couple died in the accident.

1759226011

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has uncovered a transnational crime related to money laundering. Criminal prosecution has been initiated against a foreign citizen and a legal entity, the office reported.According to the information provided, an investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office’s specialized unit established that in 2022, individuals connected with the defendant, acting on behalf of a contractor company of an enterprise operating in the Kingdom of Spain, contacted the company and, using a fake email address resembling a genuine one, sent a fraudulent invoice. On this basis, they deceived the company into transferring payment for completed work — totaling €545,784 — to a foreign bank account of a non-resident company.After this, for the purpose of money laundering, the unlawfully obtained funds were divided and transferred from the non-resident company’s bank accounts to different countries — into bank accounts controlled by members of the criminal group. Among these, part of the illegally obtained funds — €184,353 — was transferred, on the basis of fake invoices and contracts, to the bank account of a company established and managed by the defendant in Georgia.

1759223938

Employees of the Patrol Police Department, the Tbilisi Police, and the police departments of Imereti, Kakheti, and Shida Kartli of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, as a result of various operational measures and investigative actions carried out at different times, seized illegal firearms and ammunition in Tbilisi and the regions — 9 people were detained. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.“On charges of illegal acquisition, possession and carrying of firearms and ammunition, the following individuals were detained: M.L., born in 1969; D.G., born in 1997; J.K., born in 1997; V.B., born in 1984; G.G., born in 1961, as well as four previously convicted individuals: R.K., born in 1995; P.G., born in 1970; A.B., born in 1976; and B.J., born in 1972.During searches of the suspects, their vehicles and residences, law enforcement officers seized various types of firearms as evidence, including automatic weapons, revolvers and pistols, along with ammunition and magazines.The investigation into the illegal acquisition and possession of firearms and ammunition is being conducted under Article 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” the statement said.For reference: the crime is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment.

1759156351

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has initiated criminal proceedings against the parents of convicted Giorgi Bachiashvili on charges of assisting in the legalization of illegal income, the agency said in a released statement.“As the public is aware, in 2015–2017, Giorgi Bachiashvili, who had possession and management of cryptocurrency owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili and mined as a result of investment in mining, failed to transfer the corresponding amount of virtual assets to the investor and unlawfully appropriated 8,986.8675 bitcoins belonging to Bidzina Ivanishvili, after which he carried out the legalization of the misappropriated assets.In the course of the ongoing investigation, it was established that, in order to give part of the illegally obtained assets a lawful appearance, Giorgi Bachiashvili also involved his own parents. Specifically, with the support and assistance of A.B. and M.R., operations were carried out to transfer funds/assets from abroad into the jurisdiction of Georgia, to accumulate them in personal and Giorgi Bachiashvili-controlled accounts, to mix them with other assets, to acquire property, to sell it later, and to transfer the resulting funds to accounts controlled by Giorgi Bachiashvili, as well as to carry out actions aimed at final placement, separation, and integration. In this way, illegal assets were accumulated in the financial system and engaged in various types of transactions. The true nature, source of origin, location, placement, movement, and ownership rights of these assets were concealed and disguised.As a result, in 2017–2023, Giorgi Bachiashvili, with the help of his parents, legalized illegal income amounting to 2,944,957 US dollars and 1,097,187 lari.Both individuals have been formally charged under Article 25 and Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph “g” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a penalty of imprisonment from 9 to 12 years.The Prosecutor’s Office will, within the timeframe established by law, apply to the court with a motion for a preventive measure,” the statement reads.

1759134581

Officers of the Batumi City Division of the Adjara Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, as a result of operational measures and investigative actions, detained two individuals on charges of the illegal, group purchase and possession of an especially large amount of narcotic substances, facilitating their distribution, as well as the illegal use of narcotics without a doctor’s prescription.The detainees are: T.K., born in 1994, and L.B., born in 1993, who has a prior conviction.The crime carries a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.During searches of the suspects’ personal belongings, residence, and vehicle in Batumi, as well as in other locations, law enforcement officers seized as evidence an especially large amount of the narcotic substance “methadone,” prepared for sale.From the suspects’ residence, materials needed for packaging drugs, including electronic scales, were also seized.The investigation is ongoing under Articles 260, 260¹, and 273 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

1758982443

Officers of the Main Department for Juvenile Affairs of the Tbilisi Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, following operational measures and investigative actions, detained N.Ch., born in 1997, on charges of raping a minor, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported.According to the agency, the crime carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to 20 years or life imprisonment.“The investigation established that the accused engaged in sexual relations with a minor born in 2012, and a video was uploaded and distributed on his own social media account.As a result of operational and investigative actions, law enforcement officers detained N.Ch. as the accused.An investigation is underway under Part 4 of Article 137 of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” the statement said.

1758963895

Officers of the Central Criminal Police and the Patrol Police Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with staff from the Investigative Service and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, seized an especially large consignment of narcotics – 200 kilograms of heroin. The value of the seized substance on the so-called “black market” exceeds 50 million GEL. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze announced this at a briefing.According to Darakhvelidze, a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, M.B., born in 1989, has been detained in connection with the case.“From a truck driven by the accused, which was loaded with ‘fish feed,’ law enforcement officers discovered and seized eight sacks containing a hidden shipment of the narcotic substance heroin, with a total weight of 200 kilograms.Collected evidence confirms that the vehicle entered Georgia from Iran via Azerbaijan.We will continue the relevant investigative actions in order to identify other individuals allegedly involved in this crime and bring them to criminal responsibility.The investigation is being conducted under Article 260, Part 3, subparagraph ‘a’ and Article 262, Part 4, subparagraph ‘a’ of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for imprisonment of up to 20 years or life imprisonment,” said Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.