As a result of complex operational measures and investigative actions, officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with the Prosecutor General;s Office, arrested 21 people on charges of facilitating and providing a place for prostitution, and sealed 11 facilities. Grigol Gogochashvili, Head of the Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration Division of the Central Criminal Police Department, said at today’s briefing.

“Police measures were carried out in Tbilisi, Imereti and Kvemo Kartli.

Evidence obtained as a result of undercover investigative actions conducted in the criminal case, including audio and video recordings, established that the detained persons, who were managers and administrators of various facilities, systematically facilitated the activities of women involved in prostitution. In particular, in exchange for a certain fee, they provided spaces to women in the facilities under their control.

The investigation also revealed that the administrators of the facilities also assisted the persons involved in prostitution in finding clients. In return, they received a large parts of cash from the women involved in prostitution.

The investigation revealed that the main source of income of the aforementioned facilities was the funds received as a result of facilitating prostitution. As a result of searches conducted by law enforcement officers in various facilities, money obtained through illegal activities was seized. The investigation is underway under Article 254 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which implies facilitating prostitution and providing a place for prostitution.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to take appropriate police measures to detect and prevent such category of crimes, as well as to bring those involved in the crime to criminal justice”, - said Grigol Gogochashvili.