MIA arrests six on charges of ‘membership in the criminal underworld’
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The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has arrested six individuals on charges of ‘belonging to the criminal underworld’ in Zestaponi and Tbilisi.
The ‘criminal underworld’ is a form of organised crime usually under the protection of criminal bosses who organise the activities of gangs.
If convicted, the individuals face seven to 10 years in prison, according to the Head of the Central Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mamuka Chelidze.
"The accused individuals have been taking part in criminal discussions and kept active ties with so-called Georgian thieves-in-law living abroad,” Mamuka Chelidze said.
According to Georgian legislation, a ‘thief-in-law’ is a person who manages in any form and/or organises the activities of the criminal underworld or a certain group of criminal individuals.
Investigators say that three of the six detainees have been threatening the owner of a cafe in Zestaponi, demanding share thirty percent of his monthly profit in return for ‘protection’ from the so called thief-in-law Pridon Sulakvelidze currently living abroad.
According to the investigation, two other detainees have been accused of organising a so-called ‘criminal discussion’, which entails assessments and evaluations of a situation between feuding criminal groups with the aim of resolving disputes in the criminal underworld.
The ‘criminal discussion’ was organised in agreement with thief-in-law Nadir Salipov. The sixth detainee, wanted since 2007, has had close ties with other representatives of the criminal underworld. Namely, with Zaza Elikashvili, Otar Elizbarashvili, Giorgi Akhalmosulishvili and Nodar Giorgadze.
The amendments passed by the Georgian parliament in April made membership in the ‘criminal underworld’ punishable by imprisonment for seven to 10 years.
‘Thieves-in-law’ are imprisoned for up to 15 years, while the organisation of or participation in ‘criminal discussions’ is punishable by seven to 10 years.
Four Georgian criminal bosses and 34 Georgian members of criminal groups were detained in France and Greece on April 16-17 through cooperation with the Georgian Interior Ministry.
The arrests come in the wake of the capture of four Georgian criminal bosses and 34 Georgian members of criminal groups in France and Greece on April 16-17 through cooperation with the Georgian Interior Ministry.
Four Georgian criminal bosses and 34 Georgian members of criminal groups were detained in France and Greece on April 16-17 through cooperation with the Georgian Interior Ministry.
Amendments to a law on combating organised crime and racketeering come in the wake of the recent arrest of four Georgian criminal bosses and 34 Georgian members of criminal groups in France and Greece.
Avtandil Khurtsidze, a boxing champion and enforcer of Razhden Shulaya, a "thief-in-law,” has been found guilty of racketeering and related charges in connection with a sprawling and violent criminal enterprise operating in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and abroad.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested six individuals for membership in the ‘criminal underworld’. Head of the Main Division of the Fight against Organised Crime Mamuka Chelidze said at today’s briefing that the detainees were involved in criminal activities supporting the 'criminal underworld'.
French police, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, have arrested members of a criminal group. 10 among the detainees are Georgians. Two of them are criminal bosses.
The European Union will launch a project that will help the Interior Ministry upgrade its capabilities against organised crime, develop its analytical capabilities, refine legislation and community-oriented policing and enhance international contacts.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a campaign on Tuesday to raise awareness against organised crime in the country.
“Know that the law protects you!” is the official motto of the campaign, which aims to raise public awareness on how to fight against organised crime and to increase public’s level of trust in police.