On June 19, 2016 the Ministry of Internal Affairs launched investigation under the 2nd part of the Article 2231 (membership of the criminal underworld; thief in law) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The investigation was based on the information that one of the members of the criminal underworld, the so-called thief-in-law crossed the State Border of Georgia.
During 2 days the Ministry did not comment judiciously in order not to impede the investigation. As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities at the moment of attempt to illegally cross Georgia-Armenian State border was detained the above mentioned individual for being thief-in-law. During the personal search of the detainee the law enforcers seized the passport of the citizen of Ukraine issued in his name.
As a result of operative activities, it was determined that on June 22, 2016 the above mentioned individual bypassing the border checkpoint attempted to leave the State border of Georgia.
The media and the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine leaked information that a few days ago, the above mentioned individual as the so-called “thief-in-law” was deported from Ukraine to Georgia.
This fact raised questions about why on the basis of the Agreement on “Cooperation in the Field of Fight against Crime between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgian and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine” the Georgian side was not provided with the information regarding the mentioned individual in advance, as well as the information regarding his possible deportation from Ukraine, Odessa. Moreover, if the Ukrainian side had information that this individual might be the member of the criminal group, the so-called “thief-in-law”, who endanger the public safety.
Within the framework of the investigation, we have addressed our Ukrainian colleagues with an official letter and asked them for clarification. In particular, whether his Ukrainian passport was authentic and if not, why they did not withdraw it.
We are waiting for a response from our colleagues.
In the meantime, we would like to confirm once again that the above-mentioned individual is arrested and will be charged in 48 hours.
The investigation will be continued.
I would like to call on our citizens to service their civil duty and inform the law enforcement agency about a possible crime rather than spread information about it via social networks and thus being in siege position observe what the Police will do. We, the Police will be able to response in such circumstances more efficiently, more accurately and more efficiently.
This is a western standard towards which we all aspire
