Police detain 4 in Tbilisi for financial extortion, abduction of Tajik businessmen

An investigation has been launched into extortion and kidnapping, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years. Photo: screenshot from the video of MIA.

Agenda.ge, 21 Sep 2020 - 17:12, Tbilisi,Georgia

Police have detained four individuals for kidnapping and financial extortion, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The MIA reports that the detained individuals, identified only as B.P., Z.A., Z.B., and I.D., abducted Tajik citizens who were involved in business activities in Georgia and physically injured them with the purpose of extorting money out of them.

Law enforcers seized two CZ-type firearms, two gas pistols, a knife, three baseball bats and a large amount of money ($68,900) from the Lexus GX owned by one of the detainees, I.D.

An investigation has been launched into extortion and kidnapping, which is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years.

The brother of one of the detainees, Vakhtang Pareulidze, told Rustavi 2 that several months ago his relatives had asked him for help in repaying a debt to the Tajik citizens. 

Pareulidze also told Rustavi 2 that the businessmen from Tajikistan were involved in fraudulent activities.

Pareulidze also said that he and his relatives met with the Tajik businessmen twice, though nothing illegal happened, only a dispute.