Day: January 23, 2024

Georgian police arrested five people linked to the criminal underworld, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) reported on January 23. The investigations were carried out in the capital Tbilisi and in the Imereti region of Georgia by the local police.

According to the MIA press release, the individuals were arrested for belonging to the criminal underworld, participating in criminal gatherings, supporting the activities of the criminal underworld, requesting the assistance of a “thief in law” [crime boss], organized extortion, and joint participation in organized extortion. The Criminal Law of Georgia provides for ten years imprisonment for the crimes committed.

“Thieves in law,” also known as “vor v zakone” in Russian [“вор в законе” – Russian], is a term to describe influential people within the organized crime world, particularly in the context of Soviet and post-Soviet criminal groups. “Thieves in law” are often involved in overseeing criminal activities, mediating conflicts, and enforcing their own set of rules within the criminal hierarchy, in the absence of well-functioning and effective state law-enforcement. Membership in, endorsement of, and seeking assistance from “thieves in law” for settling disputes are punishable by law in Georgia.

According to the MIA, the investigation revealed the active involvement of these individuals in various criminal activities. It notes that one of those arrested asked the defendants for help in settling the financial dispute, with the aim of obtaining personal benefit. To this end, they conducted a “thief in the law” type of discussion involving both parties to the dispute. The MIA reports that “at the meeting, which was held in accordance with the traditions of the ‘thief in law’, the defendants demanded that one of the disputants pay a certain amount of money to another disputant within a certain time, and if he did not do so, they threatened him with personal retaliation.

Also Read:

• 14/11/2023 – Police Detain 18 Individuals Linked to Criminal Underworld Across Georgia

A dramatic eviction on Kekelidze Street in Tbilisi has turned into a tense standoff between authorities, the family being evicted and a group of protesters. Officers from the National Bureau of Enforcement arrived to carry out the eviction in the morning of January 23 but were met with fierce resistance from the apartment residents and supporters.

Following hours of resistance from a group of protesters and the former owner’s family, who had barricaded themselves inside the targeted apartment, the law enforcement officers have reportedly finally managed to start the eviction process.

According to some media reports, the authorities allegedly used tear gas inside the building against people who had gathered to oppose the eviction. The National Bureau of Enforcement denied this information. “On the contrary, in order to interrupt the process, the people who were inside the apartment probably used pepper spray against the [employees of the] Enforcement Police and Emergency Services, as a result of which several police officers received injuries”.

The eviction has drawn criticism from the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, who expressed her disapproval stating that “evicting people during winter and in snowy conditions, damaging their property, insulting their dignity, and promoting usurers are unacceptable.”  She emphasized that such actions are against European values and pointed out that the eviction of people during winter is prohibited in all European countries.

This incident marks the fifth attempt by the police to evict the family since 2019, according to the Social Justice Center, a local NGO focusing on social issues. The organization revealed that the family is willing to settle the primary financial debt, but they are currently being denied the opportunity to do so.

“In a flawed monetary and credit policy, creditors primarily aim to gain possession of mortgaged property. Moneylenders exploit the poor socio-economic conditions of the borrowers, resulting in the signing of loan agreements with unfavorable terms and an elevated risk of losing their homes,” the NGO noted.

The Public Defender’s Office said it is trying to locate the detainees in order to see them and react accordingly. The Ombudsman’s Office says it will also investigate the legality of the police actions.

Later today, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that 18 people had been arrested under administrative charges for allegedly disobeying lawful police orders and disturbing public order.

The ministry argues that the protesters verbally and physically insulted the police and used “as yet unidentified special means, such as spray”.

The Ministry says it is investigating the charges against the protesters under Article 353 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provided for punishment for attacking a police officer, employee of the Special Penitentiary Service or other representative of authority or a public institution.

The MIA also alleges that the protesters damaged the car of the National Bureau of Enforcement. The case is being investigated under Article 187, Part 2, Subsection “c” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for punishment for damage or destruction in a group of another person’s property resulting in substantial damage. Two persons have been arrested on this charge.

This article was updated on 23/01/2024 at 16:48 to reflect the MIA’s statement.

Also Read:

• 15/12/2020 – Tbilisi Mayor, City Hall Under Fire Over Demolition of ‘Illegal’ Houses