Briefing of Mr. Mamuka Chelidze, Head of the Main Division Combating Organized Crime of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs actively conducts various activities for effective fight against juvenile trafficking and eliminate the problems related to children employed in streets.
In the Report of 2018 the US Department of State has positively assessed the measures taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the field of combat human trafficking. According to the mentioned document, Georgia fully meets the international standards for combating human trafficking.
The Report positively evaluates the effective investigation of trafficking cases and criminal prosecution against criminals, while the effort of Georgia aimed at elimination of problems of street children is cited as one of the best examples.
This time, on the basis of the judge's decision the officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the fact of labor exploitation of juveniles detained 2 individuals in Tbilisi.
The officers of the Division Combating Trafficking and Illegal Migration of the Main Division Combating Crime in cooperation with the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia and the Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Health on the fact of juvenile trafficking detained P.M. (DoB: 1957) and his/her spouse A.M. (DoB: 1959). The crime committed by them envisages imprisonment from 17 to 20 years in length.
The investigation established that the offenders - a husband and a wife – illegally exploited children – I.M. and A.M. (DoB: 2010). In particular, using threats they psychological influenced the children and forced them to collect money through begging near the traffic lights in Pekin Street, metro stations‘ entrances, in underpasses and metro train wagons.
The investigation also established that the process of begging money by juvenile victims of trafficking was controlled by A.M. She used to pick money collected by begging from the girls and gave it to her husband – P.M. In case of refusal to proceed with begging, the girls were threatened and forced to work illegally.
Investigation is in progress under the sub-clauses “b”, “c” and “f” of the III part and sub-clause “a” of the IV part of the Article 1432 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (trafficking in two or more juveniles through force, blackmailing or deceiving by an organized group).
The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues the process of identification of all facts committed against juveniles, where children are exploited, involved in begging or engaged in social works. Despite the close familiarism or other connections between the victim and the offender, the response of law enforcers to each identified criminal fact will be principally strict.
