Briefing of Vladimer Bortsvadze, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia and Wendy Rix, the Liaison Officer, Agent of the Australian Federal Police
Officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, General Prosecutors` Office, Europol and officers of the law enforcement agencies of the United States of America and Australia as a result of jointly held intensive operative-investigative activities revealed the network involved in minors trafficking and production-distribution of materials containing pornography of minors, consequently, 11 members of the organized criminal group were detained.
The crime committed entails the imprisonment from 17 to 20 years in length or life imprisonment.
For several months the Georgian and foreign law enforcement officers have been conducting intensive operative-searching and investigative activities. As a result, on the basis of a judge's ruling, the following individuals were detained: citizen of the USA - K.U. (DoB: 1961), citizen of Australia – P.L (DoB: 1959) and citizens of Georgia: M.Ts. (DoB:1985), S.K. (DoB: 1984), G.B. (DoB:1981), B. Ts. (DoB:1978), I.A. (DoB:1982), K.O (DoB:1981), S.K. (DoB:1989), D.B. (DoB:1981) and G.B. (DoB:1984). The detainees include parents of minors, their relatives and acquaintances, as well as the owners and employees of the illegal photo salon.
The investigation revealed that the detained citizens of the USA and Australia, assisted by Georgian accomplices, conspiratorially arranged photo salons in rented apartments located in Tbilisi and manufactured pornographic images of minors for realization abroad. The offenders with the consent of parents had involved in the criminal activity up to 10 girls of 8-14 years old. The organizers of the criminal group in exchange for taking photos paid the girls` parents 500 - 3000 GEL. The payment was made by cash or through bank transaction. The investigation also established that the U.S. citizen K.U. used to cash the proceeds from illegal activities via cryptomats located in various shopping centers of Tbilisi.
On the bases of the judge`s ruling the police as a result of searches carried out in illegal photo salons seized as material evidences the following: expensive cameras, illuminations, requisites and computer equipment. In addition, the pornographic images and videos of juveniles existing in computer hardware, disks and memory cards were also seized. In order to protect the rights of the affected juveniles, the appropriate psychosocial measures are being implemented.
The investigation is in progress under the Article 255 part 3, the Article 1431, sub-clause “b” of the part 2 and sub-clause “c” of the part 3 and sub-clause “a” of the part 4 of the same article of the Criminal Code of Georgia (knowingly production or selling pornographic piece containing images of minors, also trafficking by an organized group against two or more minors).
The United States of America has expressed its position regarding this case. In particular, according to the information of the US Embassy, this legal activity coordinated on the international level and carried out with the involvement of several countries, shall be a warning to all those causing harm to children, namely, the law enforcement agencies at the international level through joint efforts, will always be able to identify, arrest and bring them to criminal responsibility.
In addition, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), shall always and everywhere fulfill its obligation to protect children anywhere in the world from those who abuse child helplessness.
