The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged 33 individuals with “legal theft”, membership in a “thieves’ underworld”, supporting the activities of a “thieves’ underworld”, and appealing to a “thief in law”.

An investigation conducted by the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia revealed that members of the “thieves’ world”, together with persons accused of supporting the activities of the “thieves’ world”, actively participated in the management and organization of the “thieves’ world” through systematic “thieves’ disputes”, intimidation, their own criminal influence and other illegal actions.

They discussed disputes between various persons both independently and with the involvement of a “thief in law”. The decisions made as a result of illegal “thieves’ disputes” were aimed at strengthening the power and criminal influence of the accused, obtaining benefits and advantages.

Law enforcement officers arrested 27 people, 4 people were charged in absentia, and 2 people were taken to a penitentiary.

The defendants were charged under Article 223 Prima, Part 2 (“legal theft”), Article 223 Prima, Part 1 (membership of a “thieves’ world”), Article 223 Tertia, Part 2 (supporting the activities of a “thieves’ world”), Article 223 Quarta, Part 1 ('appealing to a thief in law/member of a “thieves’ world”) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for up to 15 years of imprisonment as a form and measure of punishment.

The Prosecutor’s Office shall apply to the court within the time limit established by law with a request to impose imprisonment as a preventive measure on the defendants.