Police detain three for group extortion in Imereti region

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Thursday said its law enforcement officers had detained three “criminal authorities” for group extortion of money in the country’s western Imereti region.

Two of the individuals were related to two different “criminal underworld” figures, the body said, adding the arrested persons had criminal history.

The Ministry said its investigation had established the group had demanded $1,000 from an individual due to a “prior disagreement” and threatened the victim with physical harm and death.

Law enforcement officers arrested the three perpetrators at their homes in the region, with the crime punishable by up to seven years of imprisonment.