As a result of complex operational measures and investigative actions carried out by the employees of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office and based on a judge’s ruling, 26 people were detained in Tbilisi, Imereti and Samegrelo, and 4 people were charged in absentia, 3 of whom are “thieves in law”.
The following persons are detained on the grounds of membership in the “criminal world”: - previously convicted L.Ch., (DoB 1982), M.P. (DoB 1967, nicknamed “Pacho”), Z.M. (DoB 1987) and previously convicted persons: D.K. (nickname “Mesto”), born in 1981, V.B. (nickname “Kocho”), born in 1980, and one person - R.M., (DoB 1985), was charged in absentia.
The following individuals are detained on the fact of "participation in a thieves' gathering": M.G. (DoB 1977), nicknamed "Karate", G.Ch. (DoB 1985), B.S. (DoB 2001), M.U. (DoB 1970), nicknamed "Budzga", as well as those convicted of various serious crimes in the past: G.A. (DoB 1968), nicknamed "Tekia", G.S. (DoB 1967), A.K. (DoB 2001), S.B. (DoB 2001), G.G. (DoB 1963), M.M. (DoB 1974) and Z.B. (DoB 1979).
The following individuals are detained on the fact of supporting the activities of the "thieves' world": S.G. (DoB 1997), M.K. (DoB 1995) and previously convicted for various crimes: S.K. (DoB 1974), K.Ch. (DoB 1980), I.B. (DoB 1997) and R.G. (DoB 1989).
The following persons have been arrested on charges of appealing to a member of the “thieves’ world”: S.S. (DoB 1985), K.Ch. (DoB 1978) and Sh.V. (DoB 1986).
The following persons were arrested on the charge of “illegal acquisition and storage of firearms”: previously convicted K.D. (DoB 1991).
The following individuals, currently residing outside Georgia, were charged in absentia with the crime of being a “thief in law”: Jeyran Kintsurashvili, (DoB 1977), Kako Tugushi, nicknamed “Entso,” born in 1987, and Mamuka Chkhaberidze, nicknamed “Mamuka Khonski,” born in 1976.
The committed crimes envision up to 15 years in prison.
As a result of secret covert actions carried out by law enforcement officers over several months on the basis of a judge’s ruling, it was established that the detained members and supporters of the “criminal world” were involved in resolving financial disputes between citizens. The defendants, in order to obtain personal gain, contacted “legal thieves” abroad and organized “criminal skirmish.”
According to the information obtained by the investigation, the defendants made decisions in accordance with the so-called thieves' traditions and imposed payments on one of the disputing parties in favor of other, as well as on their own behalf.
As a result of the personal search of the defendants and their residential homes, the police seized computer equipment and mobile phones as evidence, through which they communicated with each other and with "thieves in law" abroad. Firearms, clamps, cartridges and the drug "marijuana" were also seized.
The investigation into the facts of being a “Thief in Law”, membership in a "thieves' world", appealing to the member of a "thieves' world", support for the activities of a "thieves' world", "participation in a thieves' gathering" and illegal purchase and storage of firearms is underway under Articles 223 (1), Parts 1 and 2, Article 223 (3), Part 2, Article 223 (2), Part 1 of Article 223 (4), and Article 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
